History
Kiaps
Australian Patrol Officers, or 'Kiaps', played a major role in the post-war development of New Guinea. Their role commenced in the uncertain days following World War 11 when the Trust Territory of New Guinea and the Australian Territory of Papua came under the joint administraion of Australia, and it continued through to 1975 with the proud independence of the new nation of Papua New Guinea.
The patrol officers began their engagement as cadets and many advanced through to District Commissioners. They were engaged in 'first contact' work i.e. the exploration of new territory and frequently the pacification of remote tribes involved in constant warfare with their neighbours. They played a vital role in helping the two and a half million natives of New Guinea and Papua along the difficult road to self-government and independence.
The word 'kiap' is the Pidgin term for the patrol officers, district officers and district commissioners of the department of the old PNG Public Service known until 1955 as District Services and Native Affairs, and thereafter in turn as Native Affairs; District Administration; and Division of District Administration of the Department of the Administration.
On 11 February 1942, the civil administraions of Papua and the Mandated Territory of New Guinea were suspeneded following the Japanese invasion, and for the duration of the Pacific war administration of the two territories not in enemy hands was carried out by the Australian New Guinea Administratin Unit (ANGAU). ANGAU personnel came mainly from the ranks of the Pauan and Mandated Territory field services, from the private settlers and from the Army. As the war progressed AMGAU grew in size as added administrative responsibilities were accepted, until the unit contained three times ans many men as the pre-war administraions combined.
ANGAU was a military unit, headed by the a military man, Major-General Basil Morris.
By June 1946, provisional civil administration in PNG had been restored. During the immediate post-war years, the Department of District Services and Native Affairs was numerically twice as strong as the next biggest department, Public Health, three times as strong as the Department of Agriculture, Stock and Fisheries and four times as strong as Education. The Department bore the major responsibility for administration in the field and in all but the major centres acted as agents for most of the smaller technical departments. The Department had the largest financial allocation and was the only department of the Administration represented down to patrol post level in all districts. The District Officer was the senior public servant at district level.
The reconstruction of the war-battered territories of Papua and New Guinea owed much to the work of the Australian Army's Directorate of Research. The Labor Government's 'new deal' plans for PNG were heavily influenced by advice from the directorate that the School of Civil Affairs was establilshed in Canberra in February 1945, to train officers for ANGAU, and from which developed the Australian School of Pacific Administration.
'Kiap' by James Sinclair
Pacific Publications, 1981
Australian Patrol Officers, or 'Kiaps', played a major role in the post-war development of New Guinea. Their role commenced in the uncertain days following World War 11 when the Trust Territory of New Guinea and the Australian Territory of Papua came under the joint administraion of Australia, and it continued through to 1975 with the proud independence of the new nation of Papua New Guinea.
The patrol officers began their engagement as cadets and many advanced through to District Commissioners. They were engaged in 'first contact' work i.e. the exploration of new territory and frequently the pacification of remote tribes involved in constant warfare with their neighbours. They played a vital role in helping the two and a half million natives of New Guinea and Papua along the difficult road to self-government and independence.
The word 'kiap' is the Pidgin term for the patrol officers, district officers and district commissioners of the department of the old PNG Public Service known until 1955 as District Services and Native Affairs, and thereafter in turn as Native Affairs; District Administration; and Division of District Administration of the Department of the Administration.
On 11 February 1942, the civil administraions of Papua and the Mandated Territory of New Guinea were suspeneded following the Japanese invasion, and for the duration of the Pacific war administration of the two territories not in enemy hands was carried out by the Australian New Guinea Administratin Unit (ANGAU). ANGAU personnel came mainly from the ranks of the Pauan and Mandated Territory field services, from the private settlers and from the Army. As the war progressed AMGAU grew in size as added administrative responsibilities were accepted, until the unit contained three times ans many men as the pre-war administraions combined.
ANGAU was a military unit, headed by the a military man, Major-General Basil Morris.
By June 1946, provisional civil administration in PNG had been restored. During the immediate post-war years, the Department of District Services and Native Affairs was numerically twice as strong as the next biggest department, Public Health, three times as strong as the Department of Agriculture, Stock and Fisheries and four times as strong as Education. The Department bore the major responsibility for administration in the field and in all but the major centres acted as agents for most of the smaller technical departments. The Department had the largest financial allocation and was the only department of the Administration represented down to patrol post level in all districts. The District Officer was the senior public servant at district level.
The reconstruction of the war-battered territories of Papua and New Guinea owed much to the work of the Australian Army's Directorate of Research. The Labor Government's 'new deal' plans for PNG were heavily influenced by advice from the directorate that the School of Civil Affairs was establilshed in Canberra in February 1945, to train officers for ANGAU, and from which developed the Australian School of Pacific Administration.
'Kiap' by James Sinclair
Pacific Publications, 1981