Hon. H. Champion, C.B.E.

Fine Record of Senior Papuan Official

From Our Own Correspondent PT. MORESBY, January 30.

ON January 1, the many friends of the Hon. H. W. Champion were delighted to learn that he had been included in the New Year’s Honours List, and given the rank of Commander in the Order of the British Empire in recognition of his many years of valuable work in the Public Ser vice of Papua.

Mr. Champion came to Port Moresby in the service of Burns, Philp and Co. in May, 1898, and abandoned his position with that firm on March 1, 1902, to join the Papuan Public Service as Government Storekeeper.

In 1905 he assumed also the duties of Ac countant to the Treasury, and served as Acting Treasurer from December of that year.

He is one of the original members of the Executive Council as re-constituted in September, 1906, under the provisions of the Papua Act of 1905. He was made Treasurer on January 1, 1908, and per formed the duties of the Government Sec retary during that officer’s absence on leave in 1911. Early in May, 1914, he was transferred permanently to the Govern ment Secretary’s Department as Acting Government Secretary, and was confirmed in that position on February 12, 1916.

During the eighteen years that Mr.

Champion has filled the position of Govern ment Secretary he has also been a member of the Lands Board, and has acted tem porarily as Commissioner for Lands, as suming that position permanently on July, 1933, in addition to his duties as Govern ment Secretary.

He has also been Acting Administrator and Acting Lieutenant-Governor, for twelve separate periods, since 1915.

During his 32 years of public service, Mr. Champion has enjoyed the complete confidence of the Lieutenant-Governor, of the officers under his control, and of all residents in the Territory. As Govern ment Secretary he has played an import ant part in organising the many success ful patrols which have brought so much honour to the Magisterial Department of Papua. To him is due a large share of credit for the efficiency of the Native Armed Constabulary; and the general spirit of faith and loyalty which actuates the officers under his control is in great measure the result of his tactful and ef ficient administration of his important department.

Mr. Champion has three sons, two of whom are in the Papuan Service and carrying on its high traditions as would be expected of them. One of them, Ivan Champion, accompanied Karius on his famous patrol up the Fly River to its source and across the almost impassable tableland which forms the heart of New Guinea, down through quite unknown country to the headwaters of the Sepik River and out to the north-east coast.

Taking all elements into consideration, this was one of the most successful achievements in the whole history of Aus tralian exploration: and Ivan Champion’s book on the subject has had wide sales in England and Australia.

Mr. Champion himself is still a com paratively young man, and has many years of useful work ahead of him.

In offering him their sincere congratu lations on the honour accorded to him. his many friends in Papua hope that he will continue to hold for many more years his position in a Service which could ill af ford to lose him.