CONFUSION AND GRAFT

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 10, Issue 51, 18 November 1946, Page 2

CONFUSION AND GRAFT

POSITION IN FAR EAST

AWLESSNESS AND PIRACY RAMPANT

A young man who had experience of the Far East before the late war and who returned there recently writes from Penang to relatives' in Rotorua in a completely disillusioned frame of mind. He says, inter alia:—

What a disappointing world we live in. None of the promises of the war years seems to be coming to pass and man is revealing hiznself every day as a greedy, dishonest creature. In this country the muddle, graft, greed and blatant dishonesty amongst officials from top to bottom have been incredible and one’s faith in British colonial administration is apt to be sadly shaken.

It is now a land in which nobody knows who is in charge of what and where every race is dissatisfied with conditions but seems powerless to do anything about it. . I find life here exceedingly trying at times, and sometimes doubt the wisdom of staying here. Law and order ai’e slowly returning insofar as major crimes are concei’ned; there is less chance today of ozre being held up in the main road at pistol point than there was a month or so ago. However, pirates still operate with impunity about the coasts, although they can’t catch a steamer and prey mostly on junks. One of the worst places was actually at the south entrance to Penang Harbour, but at last the police have made a raid and partially cleared it up. Minor crimes are prevalent. We have been burgled five times, but except for getting away with my sheets and a towel, I have not suffered. I am nearly driven nuts trying to stop looting of ships’ cargoes when they are discharging, until I sometimes think it is a waste of time trying.