Death of Mr. Staniforth Smith

THE death occurred in Perth on Janu ary 14, at the age of 64, of Mr.

Miles Staniforth Smith, who represented Western Australia in the first Senate, and was subsequently Administrator of Papua and acting Administrator of the Northern Territory.

Mr. Staniforth Smith was educated at St. Arnaud Grammar School and Mel

bourne University, and went to Western Australia early in 1896. He made a special study of tropical government and devel opment. He was Mayor of Kalgoorlie from 1900 to 1901 and was elected to the Senate at the head of the poll. He served in the Senate for six years, and in 1907 went to Papua, where he became Admin istrator. He enlisted with the 44th Bat talion in 1916, serving till the end of the war. He was afterwards Acting Admin istrator of the Northern Territory for two years, and then returned to Papua, where he remained for some years.

He was made a gold medallist of the Royal Geographical Society for explora tion in New Guinea. He wrote a num ber of works on Australian campaigns in the Great War, on British New Guinea, and on Germany in the Pacific. On re turning to Western Australia from Pa pua he worked a property of 8000 acres in the south-west of the State. Mr.

Staniforth Smith was married in 1928 to Miss Marjorie Mitchell, niece of Sir James Mitchell, Lieutenant-Governor. He is survived by Mrs. Staniforth Smith and four children.