[“A Page from the Past”, The Sunday Times (Perth, WA), Sunday 21 January 1923, page 1]
A PAGE FROM THE PAST
Niggers in the Nor’-West—Exploited Like Possums—No. II
By John T. Brodie
I sent report upon report to the Commissioner and made general charges against all hands, including the jury, in connection with what I called the ”Nigger Catching Industry.” For a long time Inspector M. sat on a rail till it appeared that I must be overwhelmed by force of numbers, and deciding that discretion was the better part of valor, he joined forces with his old enemies and became their leader. I then stood alone, to carry on what appeared to be a very uneven and hopeless contest which involved my position and reputation.
The Commissioner demanded that I make specific charges. At first I declined, pointing out that the practice had been going on for so long I wanted the whole system altered, and made suggestions. The Commissioner insisted, or I would be charged myself. It was thought that I had made statements which I could not substantiate, and that my days were numbered. Finally I made specific charges of a very serious nature; I also charged Inspector M. with incompetency.
The contest now became hot and savage—I was outlawed. I had to send my reports through the Inspector and did not see his remarks till the file came back from Perth and not always then. They were mostly an attack upon me and a denial of my statements and praise for all those he had previously condemned. I discovered that extracts and copies of my report to the Commissioner were being sent out to all police in the bush. Also, a well-known pastoralist, now a resident of Perth, said to me in Derby on his return from Perth, that he had seen the Commissioner about me, and that the Commissioner had said if he had any more reports from me I would be dismissed from the force.
This did not deter me; but in view of this and the leakage from the district office I changed by[sic] tactics. Neither the Commissioner nor the Inspector saw any more of my reports, but prominent people in Perth did. There was a C. of E. and Presbyterian minister in Broome who used to visit Derby. I insisted their services. I told them everything and showed them proof. I told them how old and infirm and decrepit natives were dragged in from the bush in chains and charged with cattle-killing when they could not kill a cat. How some had actually crawled into the lockup on their hands and knees and died in a few days after being committed for trial or sentenced. I showed injuries that were inflicted on the natives to make them tell “true fellow.” I let them interview the natives themselves.
These gentlemen were so horrified that they both determined to bring the matter before their respective Synods, which they did, I believe, in Bunbury and N.S.W. This and my reports to outsiders brought such pressure to bear that a Royal Commission was appointed to inquire into the whole matter. Inspector Sellenger was the Commissioner. He conducted the inquiry very fairly and ably. I was seven days before the Commission in connection with the charges I had made.
I will give a brief account of one of the many charges, which was considered utterly impossible to substantiate. A small batch of prisoners came in from Isdell, 210 miles from Derby, some months previously. The escorting constable brought his daily occurrences with him. These showed he left Isdell with 13 prisoners, but he arrived in Derby with only 12, for which he got a “please explain,” which he took back to his station. In due course an explanation came to hand from the Isdell police to the effect that one of the prisoners took seriously ill a few miles out from Isdell and could not travel; he was taken back to Isdell, nursed back to health, and let go.
Neither I nor Inspector M. believed that story, but as far as the Inspector was concerned, he let it go at that, though I was determined to get to the bottom of it in my own way. A few miles from Derby there was a camping place. I found the escort had spent the last night there before reaching Derby, in company with Constable F. and a station manager Mr. E., who were going in the opposite direction to the escort. Constable F. always carried a camera, and delighted in showing snapshots, some of which were very indecent.
On looking over his snapshots one day, I found one taken at the camping place above mentioned, showing 13 natives, the constable and Mr. E. The photo was small and indistinct, but I managed to get hold of the negative. I then got out of him what happened at the camp. One of the natives had been badly knocked about. F. said one arm had been burned and was bandaged. He was in such a bad way that F. advised that he be turned adrift and not taken to Derby where Brodie was. The advice was acted upon. F. begged of me not to put him away or his life would be in danger. I later saw Mr. E., who confirmed F.’s statement. I knew mere statements were not much good—they could be denied—so I sent the negative to Webb and Webb in Perth, to be made as large and distinct as possible. They made a good job of it. I told Inspector Sellenger that this particular case would be proved to the hilt. I said I depended mainly on Mr. E., who was a reliable man. Mr. E. was subpoenaed as a witness, but I was informed by F. that he would be no use as he had been fixed up. F. was not to be called.
At the trial the accused stuck to their original statement. Mr. E. proved a very unsatisfactory witness; he could not remember. At the conclusion Inspector S. informed me that he would have to dismiss the charge for lack of proof; in fact, it was, he said, proved to be a false statement by me. I had purposely kept back the photo, but the time had come to play the “Joker,” so I said to Inspector S., “If you saw with your own eyes what I say happened in the camp, would you believe it then?” He said he would. I then produced the photo. That settled it; the accused gave in and begged for mercy. I have not seen that photo since, but would like to have it as a souvenir.
From Derby Inspector S. went through East Kimberley when he returned from Derby to Wyndham. He told me I had done splendid work. He said “The Sunday Times” would give £500 for the evidence he had collected, but they would never see it. He said it meant a big thing for him. He expected to be made Commissioner for the North-West, with H.Q. at Broome. As for Inspector M., he would lose his commission and be shifted to Perth. I asked, in view of what happened, to be transferred out of the Nor’-West. He said I could have any station I like to apply for. In view of that I applied for, I think, Katanning. The Commissioner replied, saying I would not be transferred from Derby unless recommended by Inspector Sellenger. It struck me that the Commissioner was disappointed over my success, and that Inspector Sellenger was not able to keep his promise to me. However, much to my disgust, I was transferred to Port Hedland, and finally resigned.
The upshot of the whole thing was an entirely new system of dealing with the natives. The establishment of a Government cattle run in East Kimberley, where the natives are collected and cared for, and evidently made self-supporting, and no doubt the saving of thousands to the country. For this Inspector Sellenger and the then Colonial Secretary (Hon. J. D. Connolly) took all the credit both in the Press and Parliament. They made the most of it in their own interest, while I, who bore the brunt of it all, over a period of 12 months, got nothing. Without my action in the first place, which forced the inquiry, they could have done nothing and would have done nothing. I did make an attempt to have all the papers and evidence laid on the table of the House, but the member whom I approached did not think it worth while.
I now wish to make the matter public through the Press as some little satisfaction to myself and my friends. I have written this entirely from memory. I forget most things, but I will never forget this experience. When I heard Sir J. D. Connolly addressing the troops on Salisbury Plain, this was in my mind then. My action disclosed many things, especially the treatment of the natives in the past, which I claim to have improved. Who knows but the memory of such treatment may have had something to do with the recent murders in the north? It certainly would have a tendency that way. Who knows but that these poor despised natives may find greater favor in Goe s sight in the end than many of his white-skinned brothers however high and mighty they may be in this world. I believe it is God’s plan and purpose that the lowly, humble and meek, and the despised and rejected of men will inherit the earth and be the exalted ones in the world to come. It also shows up the depravity of human nature under certain conditions, and the peculiar selfishness and hypocrisy of officialdom, politicians, and mankind in general.
