Had quarter of a typhoid injection.
Good porridge! Minced meat today.
Cold again.
Diary pages from this date
The British Communal Council, the Camp's new governing body, meets for the first time.
John Pennefather- Evans suggests prayers be offered for Divine guidance, and the Reverend Sandbach obliges.
The Council notes with satisfaction that some of those who committed the recent thefts of food from godowns just outside the camp have been handed over to the internee authorities to be dealt with, which, the Council believes, shows evidence that the Japanese intend to follow the Geneva Convention, which says that internment camps should be self-governing.
But Camp Secretary, John Stericker, cynically notes that it became obvious later there was no such intention and that the guards were too scared to let the Gendarmes know they had failed to stop the thefts.
Sir Atholl MacGregor speaks on the introduction of a camp judicial system, Finance and Executive Committees are appointed, and the committee refuses to co-opt two women to represent Stanley's 1000 or so women and children, a suggestion from the social worker, Miss Elliot.
After two hours, the meeting finishes.
Source:
John Stericker, Captive Colony, 1945, Chapter V, pages 5-6
Ration of margarine and treacle.
((Following text not dated:))
Promise of resumption of electricity service. Minimum four light points, for which deposit five yen required. We have twenty points, so much tearing out of sockets necessary. Finally apply late in February for eight lighting points only. $20 to have rest of twenty points put out of commission.
Gas man called to say service being resumed. Fuel increasingly hard to get so signed up for gas, but never materialised. Our electricity allowance too small and too expensive to permit of cooking. I devised means of by-passing meter with simple device quickly and easily removed.
Family to church and made acquaintance of a fine man, Pastor Johan Neilsen, formerly head of Norwegian Missions to Seamen in Shanghai. We see him often, and obtain much spiritual comfort from him.
Syrup issue.
USA bombs Tokyo & Nakasaki & we have the upper hand in Java? All stores being taken from the Colony? Such are the rumours of the day.