[“The Native Questions”, The West Australian, Tuesday 10 December 1907, page 6]

THE NATIVE QUESTION.

TREATMENT ON THE ASHBURTON.

REPORT OF TRAVELLING INSPECTOR.

Mr. C. F. Fartiere, one of the travelling inspectors attached to the Aborigines Department, has forwarded the following report on the treatment of natives by settlers on the various Ashburton stations recently visited by him:—

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One great problem in dealing with the aborigines question, is what is the best course to adopt in connection with the venereal disease, that has become so widely distributed amongst them, and beyond doubt it is a most serious condition that requires prompt, severe, energetic, and expensive steps to be taken if the ravages of the disease are to be taken seriously into consideration, and some systematic course adopted towards stamping the disease out. So far as my present observations go, I honestly think that unless some special legislation is brought to bear on the question, in a few more years the disease will have worked such dire results, the aborigines will have passed away, and be beyond causing Government or any others consideration, and I may instance in support of my statement, take Geraldton for example, only one old man there. Syphilis has become widely distributed, first of all taking the gins off and the males follow, and unless the question is taken seriously in hand in a few years there will only be a very small remnant left of the Nor’-West blacks.

In my opinion it is quite beyond the capabilities of the Department to cope with the prevention against spreading syphilis amongst the aborigines, the Department has not command of the necessary funds that would be required, and I am inclined to think that nothing short of special legislation that would mean a large financial vote would meet the requirements of the case.

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I hope you will not think I am going beyond my duties or attempting to assume more than my position entitles me to, and I offer my views with the desire to help to check the ravages of the widely-spread disease that is swiftly and surely wiping out the Australian aborigines from their own country, through the introduction of the white man, and for which the aborigines themselves are not responsible.

In my opinion one of the first steps to be taken would be the establishing of a natives’ sanatorium away from the mainland on one of the islands, say, for instance, Dirk Hartog Island, which could be purchased by the Government on the same lines that land estates are acquired when wanted for closer settlement. This, no doubt, means large outlay, but under skilful management by a practical man it could be worked at a profit. Dirk Hartog Island would be most suitable, it carrying sheep that would show an annual profit, and there would also be pearling and beach-combing, all work the natives are fond of. Once the sanatorium was established the police being already appointed protectors, they can easily find out syphilitic cases, and instead of the present plan of trying to make local cures the natives be deported to the island right away and be under the control and observation of the resident medical officer which would insure a certain, quick, and effectual cure. If this system were adopted it would also meet another difficulty which at present exists. The various local doctors in most cases do not care to have syphilitic patients about the hospital, and will not admit them under the plea that they have no proper accommodation. If the native sanatorium were once started that difficulty would be overcome, and a system once in proper working order, I think it would only mean in a reasonable lapse of time that the disease would be regularly under control. The cases that were not of too long standing would be cured and many lives saved that certainly mean ending fatally under the present conditions.

The present funds at the disposal of the Department are not equal to the disbursements that would be required to carry out the sanatorium system, and the only way I see is for special legislation, passing a short Bill through the House authorising the additional increased expenditure. The native question as it now stands deserves the special attention of the State, and really becomes one of national interest, and now that Australia has become a united Commonwealth, it certainly will not be to the credit of Australia that the last of her original inhabitants should be allowed to die out and pass away through the unchecked ravages of a vile disease, that merely requires a special vote of money properly expended to wipe the disease out and preserve the lives of the native race that is so rapidly passing away.

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COMMENT BY CHIEF PROTECTOR.

Mr. H. C. Prinsep, the Chief Protector of Aborigines, adds the following note to Mr. Fartiere’s report: With reference to Mr. Fartiere’s remarks on venereal, it would be well to mention that the Bernier and Barrow Islands have been set aside for the use of the aboriginals suffering from syphilis. A report has been received from the Bernier Island, and the Travelling Inspector is now on his way to Onslow to report on the Barrow Island. The sum of £4,000 has been placed on the Estimates this year to meet expenditure in occupying these two islands, and it is to be hoped that by this time next year good progress will have been made in isolating these unfortunate natives.

AB notes:

Travelling inspector Charles Fartiere suggests that the isolation hospitals should be placed on islands.