New Guinea’S Next Administrator

And Chief Judge

Letter To The Editor

THE approaching retirement of Brigadier-General Griffiths in July, 1934, as Administrator of the Mandated Territory and the not distant retirement of Mr.

Justice Wanliss, the Chief Judge, raise the anxious question of the selection of trained and suitable persons to fill these important positions.

Both gentlemen have worthily acquitted themselves of their high offices, and carry with them the esteem of all interested in the progress of the Territory. The ab sorbing question at present is: Who are to be their successors?

It is useless to bemoan now the mis takes and blunders of incompetent officials in the past, whose only claim to the posi tions they occupy is war service or the friendship of politicians. But to the folly of the past would be added the guilt of

the present if we ignore the sad lessons the past has taught us.

The position of Administrator is no easy task. Harmonising the different elements and interests in the Territory to-day re quires a trained and competent official, and, unfortunately for Australia, an abundance of suitable persons are not available to select from.

With the opening up of the Goldfields the Territory is becoming more important every year, and problems quite foreign lo a home government present themselves constantly for solution.

Australia made a wise choice in select ing Sir Hubert Murray for Papua. Though not experienced in Colonial administra tion, Sir Hubert possessed a trained and well-informed mind, while his professional experience as one of New South Wales’ most eminent lawyers placed him in a position of easily adapting himself to the difficulties of Papua. The result of his administration reflects great credit not only on himself but on Australia. Can another Sir Hubert Murray be found in Australia now to direct the destinies of the Mandated Territory?

Educated people, both in and out of the Territory, have always lamented the fact that an Administrator and a number of officers trained in Colonial Administra tion in the British colonies of Africa or India were not invited here under con tract for a number of years, when the Territory passed from military to civil control. England, we know, has an abun dance of such men; their contributions on different phases of African and Indian life demonstrate their fitness for the posts, which unfortunately have, in far too many cases, been taken in this part of the world by incompetent and untrained men. No doubt a combination of pat riotic and monetary motives would attract suitable persons.

Such a suggestion would be objected to by those who prefer personal interest to public gain; but it must be remembered, in the words of Edmund Burke, that as “a great Empire and little minds go ill together,” so likewise a flourishing and prosperous Colony directed by a puny in tellect is an impossibility. If Australia lacks trained men, why not import them for its responsible positions?

The wild guesses of people, expressed through the southern press, whose only claim to pronounce on our affairs has been a trip on an Island steamer, are really amusing. Judging by the names sub mitted for the position of Administrator one would conclude the destinies of the Mandated Territory are less important than a settlement in the North-west of Australia. Names have already been mentioned of persons likely to be consid ered when a choice must be made, but of course no one here thinks that a respon sible Federal Government would for a moment consider such claims. Yet the mere mention of such names shows the lamentable ignorance displayed by some people concerning the Mandated Terri tory, and what is required for its de velopment.

The position of Chief Judge, which will become vacant in the near future, is a consideration scarcely less important than

that of Administrator. Is there one in the Territory to-day trained and com petent for the high position? The tradi tion of the British Bar is one of the Em pire’s greatest glories. While unscrupu lous and corrupt men have sometimes been found, unfortunately, among poli ticians, no one has ever suggested that the British Judiciary has been even faintly polluted. The greatest care and watchfulness on the part of Bar Councils have largely been responsible for the se lection of only suitable gentlemen for the Judiciary, and the greatest stress has been laid on choosing only lawyers whose experience at the Bar has demonstrated their fitness for the Bench.

His Honour Mr. Justice Wanliss has upheld, during his long and honourable term of office, the best traditions of the British Bar. Firm, just and courteous, His Honour has, in spite of the little mis placed criticism directed against a few of fiis judgments by a clique not versed in law, won the esteem and admiration of all parties.

Residents who regard the Territory as their true home sincerely hope that poli tical interest and personal gain will be relegated entirely to the background and that only the claims of trained and quali fied persons will be considered when the necessity arises of making the two ap pointments on which depend so largely the peace and progress of the Territory.

I am, etc.,

A Long Resident Of N.G.

Rabaul, 14/5/’34.