New Zealand's universities need to revamp their own programme of assistance abroad.

The Criticism of the Australian university students by Mr. John Pasquerelli, member of Papua and New Guinea's House of Assembly (Dominion, March 5) and the recent United States' evaluations of the Peace Corps' programme direct attention to the New Zealand schemes.

Criticism of Australian students in Papua and New Guinea is justified and true if one accepts the status quo society with a virtually all-white administration still largely responsible to, and completely financed by Canberra. Under this system the administration seeks to develop the Territory as fast as possible in the economic, educational and political spheres.

Social aspect

But there is still the social aspect which has barely been developed in the Territory. New Guinea's first graduate (in agriculture) was thrown out of European clubs in Lae. Similarly other indigenous men and women of high standing are suffering similar insults in their own country, which are completely out of keeping with the treatment they may have had in Australia.

It is the essential nature of the actions and attitudes of the status quo colonial society then, which is unable, and more than not, unwilling to accept social change brought about by increasing participation by indigenous people in Papua and New Guinea's affairs.

With the influx of over three hundred Australian students into the Territory early in January, the all-white society was shocked by the scruffiness and consequent actions and attitudes of the students.

Though accommodation adn liberally subsidised fares were provided, the general impression of the students in the expatriates' eyes was to lower the image of the white man before the natives. This in many ways was so true that even myself, who held a responsible administration position on the Sepik River, on more than one occasion refused to associate myself with Australian students on some sort of Narodnik movement through the area.

In fact the "masta-boi" association in the Territory is so strong that even the natives themselves began to resent the fact of having "lower standard" Europeans in their midst.

I am not putting forward on argument that this system of colonialism is a good one, but for the Territory it is a fact, and an unfortunate bun necessary factor in Papua and New Guinea's development.

Native attitude

Since I have just discussed expatriate attitudes to students, let me try and assess the native attitude.

Of the students that came to the Territory, most spent their first fortnight in the main centres, either in Port Moresby. Lae, Madang or Rabaul. It was in these work camps that students carried out such menial tasks as digging post holes for council houses, a little carpentry work, and painting. Throughout this period the students had to be fed, transported and supplied with tools.

While on the job it was the natives' duty to feed them, and not a man's work either. The brunt of the work tell not on the students, who could not hope to work efficiently in the Territory heat anyway, but on the native women, who are always hard pressed. The native men were inclined to stand around or go on with other business.

Cost greater

The cost of one Port Moresby job was assessed at being more than it would have cost if native paid labour was used.

Thus work camps fail in this respect, despite all the benefits the students may have gained. Student work camps generally accentuate existing social problems, causing embarrassment to Europeans and natives alike, and take work away from an already under-employed indigenous work force.

I contend that the work camp arrangement, and consequent bludging of tours around the Territory by students, caused a strain both economically and socially on the Territory's plural society.

If New Zealand students are going to flock into Samoa as unskilled, peasant banana planters, I strongly recommend that they keep these points in mind. The European is held in high respect in most Pacific countries. Proving that one can dig post holes and live as poorly as natives do, does not necessarily impress the local population. In fact this is more likely to be a social and financial embarrassment to all concerned.

If students want to work abroad, then I recommend that they enter through the society ready-made for them. In that way they can receive appropriate training for more responsible jobs, commensurate with their qualifications. Students can, in this manner, influence conservative colonialist attitudes at all levels, and still maintain a close two-way contact and respect with the indigenous population.