The History

The German New Guinea Constabulary

Dr. Albert Hahl,

Imperial Vice-Governor of German New Guinea,

To introduce a more effective and less conflict management , appointed Hahl indigenous mayor ("Luluai"),which should be the bridge between German government and the locals. Luluai was responsible for the local administration. Jurisdictions on land issues, etc. were held only by the imperial judges. The Luluai earned up to 300 marks a month . In return, they had to meet quotas of unpaid work and collect the poll tax (since 1906), of which they were allowed to use 10% for themselves. This form of indirect management of the influence of traditional powers was reduced and bound the native population of the colonial economic system. But the Luluai system could be operated because of his privileges for individuals and the repeal of the former village order not without conflict. In establishing Sacred Heart missionaries that could be useful to the process of colonization because of their knowledge of the country , but it also came into conflict with locals, which in 1904 led to the " Baining massacre " in others. The later addition to the Luluai system by several government stations should punitive expeditions as they were common in Hahl predecessor Rudolf von Bennigsen diminish. Land rights and economic policy Hahl had already in 1899 ensured that the right to acquire land by local communities or simply take an uninhabited area in possession , only lay with the province,which the resale right was careful that no ownership rights of the locals were injured. Since 1903, the existing ownership have been checked for their accuracy beyond. So 1903-1914 were about 5,740 ha , which had already come into the possession of European planters , again returned to the village communities and created a total of 70 inalienable reserves . But real potential for conflict lay in the vast areas that had been acquired by the company, and New Guinea that have never been officially measured or assessed to what extent the acquisition had curtailed rights locals . Each New Guineans had at least an acre of land for settling and tilling are available. This land should be primarily so-called " cash crops " , particularly Coconut palms are grown. In this way Hahl wanted to achieve that Guineans could participate even at the colonial economic system and were not forced to work on European plantations. In 1914 nearly half of the exports of copra cultivation of the natives of the Gazelle Peninsula , while the mainland population were forced to Madang by the loss of their lands to work on the plantations of the New Guinea Company of . However, the detailed provisions which could Hahl work and medical care had been set up for local workers regarding wages , duration, and the abolition of female labour force , compared with the other company, and Guinea - German plantation owners, never fully implemented . Education and medical care Under Hahl reign came three government and two Missions hospitable where in addition to the supply of the population young locals were given a basic medical training and returned to their villages after a few months as a medical Luluais . Also the education grew strongly and as Hahl 1914 left New Guinea, there were over 600 primary schools , six schools and a craft school for interpreters. The enrollment rate of 3.2% was higher than in most African colonies. After his retirement in 1918 he was director of the New Guinea Company, after the loss of the colonies by the First World War.

Rabauls first Police Station Rabaul built by Dr Albert Hahl 1910

New Guinea Polizeitruppe, Ponape 1910

German New Guinea Police on parade with rifles 1909

Police man and family

Armed Native Constabulary.

William MacGregor

Administrator and Lieutenant-Governor of British New Guinea from 1888-98.

The foundation of this force lay in the efforts of Sir William MacGregor, G.C.M.G., P.C., and M.D., who was appointed the first Administrator in 1888. MacGregor actually explored much of the territory himself, and in 1896 was awarded the Founders Medal of the Royal Geographical Society. Selecting a tribal leader from each of the villages, MacGregor invested him as a Village Constable, to regulate the observance of simple laws. The village constables' lot was often a perilous one. On one hand he had the Government badge of authority- on the other, scores of years of tribal superstitions and loyalties. Always ready to cast the 'evil eye' was the sorcerer. The system of Village Constables continued for the next 75 years, until it was unnecessary due to the extension of regular police patrols. To create a regular force, MacGregor created the ARMED CONSTABULRY in 1890, with George WRIFORD as Commandant. On the 20 May 1890 the Administrator of Papua, Sir William MacGregor (Later to be made Lieutenant Governor) for the period 1895-1898) wrote to the Governor of Fiji and asked for a Fijian Sergeant and Corporal of the Fijian Armed Native Constabulary and 10 Solomon Islanders, who would form a force of Armed Native Constabulary to serve Papua British New Guinea

First 14 policemen

The Governor of Fiji sent Sergeant Ratu Nailovolovo , Corporal lpereimi, and 12 Malaita natives of the Solomon Islands. Constables Tomu Orgovi, Tabua Onemai, Harry Daviri, Jim Kalugausu (also known as Arawas), Tom Kualemanu, Sam Luluwata, Frank Dawaningara, Frank Suria, Joe Maravosa, Johnny Futeramu, Tom Tarumbaia, William Varombo.

They left Suva on 9 August 1890 aboard HMS Rapid and disembarked at Samarai. Sir William MacGregor first inspected this detachment at Port Moresby on 11 October 1890.

The Sergeant received £20 per annum and the Corporal £15 year per term annum on a salary. Constable received £12 per annum, signed and on for a contract of three years which began on the same day as the Sergeant and the Corporal.

The choice of Fijian N.C.O.’s was no doubt influenced by MacGregor 13 years in Fiji. Under the command of WRIFORD, detachments of this small force visited more than 120 villages, by foot and canoe 7 during the eight months from 6.11.1890. By June 1891 the force had been enlarged by the recruitment of thirteen Papuans, much against the wishes of local residents. The prime work of the Constabulary was accompanying the Lieut. Governor and escorting patrols involving the extension of Government influence and pacification. In this year, of the force of twenty seven, eight were at MABUDAUAN Station in the charge of a Resident Magistrate who was also an officer of the Constabulary; a further three were with another Resident Magistrate on the cutter 'MAINO'; and the remainder comprised the Headquarters Detachment at PORT MORESBY, Training was given in rifle firing, bayonet practice, and camp procedure. The constable's role was purely that of an escort; because of his illiteracy he was given no more than a smattering of legal procedure. As an escort or scout, his knowledge was unrivalled, and many patrol officers owe their lives to his loyal quick thinking and resourcefulness in the bush. Each constable signed on for three years, there being much prestige in wearing the uniform of the Government. The uniform, which was to remain virtually unchanged for the next seventy four years consisted of a heavy navy blue serge lava lava (lap lap) and 􀂣ulu (jumper), both banded with red piping. A red cummerbund was worn under a broad leather belt with ammunition pouches. During its first year, three murderers were arrested, though no doubt many more occurred in less accessible regions. In the next few years no more Fijian􀀡, or Solomon Islanders were recruited, and eventually the force became all Papuan, with the exception of its officers. By 1898 the year of MacGregor’s appointment to LAGOS, the force had grown to 110. MacGregor said when he left, 'the two finest institutions I left in the Country, were the Constabulary and the Village Police’

By 1912, the force had grown to 250, still retaining the same basic uniform. About 1902/3 their long black hair was cut and a forage type cap added, but this does not seem to have persisted for long. Later a three feet brass chain was worn from the bolt, this being used effectively as simple handcuffs. The standard weapon was the Martini Enfield 303 rifle, ball ammunition being· issued when on patrol. PAPUA appears to have had less murder attacks on European government officers and prospectors then transpired in German New Guinea. One of the last occurred 1-April 1916, when a patrol officer was killed by an arrow. He annul report notes that 'the murderer was shot dead. During the following transitional years the force, by now as the ARMED CONSTABULARY of PAPUA grew. It acquired European regular police officers, and police work assumed more importance, gradually taking over from the patrol and pacification-, aspect under field patrol officers, who held police powers. In 1939 the force consisted of 300 well trained Papuans. In that year King George Vl saw fit to grant the prefix 'ROYAL', in recognition of long and meritorious service of the local people􀂅 in the service of administration. The force then became known as the ROYAL PAPUAN CONSTABULARY.

The ANC played a particularly important role under Lieutenant-Governor Hubert Murray after the British Protectorate passed to Australian control and was renamed Papua . Between 1906 and 1940 “Murray’s police”, as they came to be called, accompanied European officers on patrols sent out to explore the country and extend Administration control. These patrols were usually the first official contact villagers had with the Administration. Murray believed in peaceful patrolling whenever possible. In 1939 the ANC became the Royal Papuan Constabulary.Between 1942 and 1945 the country was under the control of the ANGAU Australian New Guinea Adminastration Unit with a small law enforcament Papua Police enforcing law and order in Port Moresby.In 1945 there were two Police forces in the Territory, the New Guinea Police Force and the Royal Papuan Constabulary

In German New Guinea a paramilitary police force, much like the ANC in British New Guinea, was established by Hahl in 1896. Some police were stationed at the headquarters in Rabaul. Others were recruited and trained in districts and attached to District Officers. The police detachment at Rabaul was used to back up district police units when necessary. Police were frequently involved in European-led punitive expeditions. In 1922 the Australians, who had taken over the German colony in 1914, established the New Guinea Police Force. The police in the Australian Territory of New Guinea were used for much the same purposes as those in the Territory of Papua, but used their weapons far more freely than those under Administrator Murray’s control.

The story of Karo Araua, Armed Constabulary

(Papua), who was hanged for murder

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D.W. Butterworth, Commandant, British New Guinea Armed Native Constabulary. Butterworth was commandant twice: 31 December-14 February 1893 and 15 February 1894-13 November 1901.

List of Commandants of the British New Guinea Armed Constabulary

H M Chester, Police Magistrate.

McNeil, Duncan Alexander, 11 March 1890-1 October 1890.

Wriford, G.A.W., 1 October 1890-31 December 1892.

Unknown, 15 April 1892-31 December 1892.

Butterworth, D.W., 31 December-14 February 1893.

Palmer, W.D.H., 14 February 1883-15 February 1894.

Butterworth, D.W., 15 February 1894-13 November 1901.

Bardon, F.R., 13 November 1901-1903.

Bruce, W.C., 1 November 1903-30 June 1907 (dismissed from the service after Royal Commission).

The position of commandant was retired in 1907. British New Guinea was

Renamed Papua. The armed constabulary of Papua had a strength of 250 men. Each constable is armed with a rifle and bayonet; 450 rifles and 3oo bayonets in all are held. It has been decided, on the advice of the military, for future firearms replacement, to re-arm the force with Martini-Enfield carbines. The recruits are given a six month course of training. There is no recruitment of European officers. Any member of the public service may be appointed an officer of the armed constabulary.

Police flogging prisoner

Long hut built for police Quarters on Daru Island, Papua New Guinea 1899

Long hut for the convict prison on Daru Island, Papua New Guinea 1899