An honourable man: Mekeo views of the village constable

Abstract

Papua New Guinea tend to dismiss the government appointed village officials?the village constable in Papua, the luluai in New Guinea?as the passive mouthpieces of a rigidly paternalistic regime which jealously denied even a modicum of responsibility to its charges.1 Anthropologists have displayed more interest, particularly in the effect of the new role on in digenous leadership structures, but even so there is little agreement on its significance. While some assert that the village officials were unrestrained despots who destroyed the consensual nature of traditional 'big man' leadership, others support the notion that they were usually nonentities with no actual power or real influence. Hogbin and Brown have furnished dramatic examples of despotic officials.2 Maher observes that hereditary leadership among the Koriki became more competitive with the introduc tion of the village constable system.3 Oliver provides examples of both despots and responsible officials among the Siuai of Bougainville.4 Salis bury, on the other hand, denies that government appointment encouraged despotism. He argues that despotic behaviour was in fact characteristic of traditional politics, that government appointment conferred little power on the holder and that, in practice, his lot was far from enviable.5 The function of the village constable and the luluai was essentially to communicate the government's orders to their people and see that they were carried out. They were responsible for implementing measures con cerned with village hygiene, such as the building of latrines and pig fences, and ensuring that houses were kept in good repair, roads and tracks kept

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