Editorial Note

We agree with much of what our cor respondent says: but we do not agree that it is impossible or even difficult to find suitable men in Australia for these high administrative posts. Sir Hubert Murray, General Griffiths, and Mr. Justice Wanliss were all selected in Australia.

But, in the last two or three years, some very dreadful appointments to important administrative positions have been made by Australian politicians, giving good grounds to the fear that some chin-wag ging time-server or worn-out military officer, or jobless politician, will be pushed into the Islands posts. Not only have the two positions in New Guinea to be filled: it is understood that Sir Hubert Murray also proposes retirement from the Lieutenant-Governorship of Papua at an early date.

The hope is entertained in Canberra that both General Griffiths and Sir Hubert Murray will remain on duty for another year 4 or two at least. But, if the posi tions are to be filled, it is likely that the Lyons Government will try to fill them be fore it faces the uncertainties of an im minent general election.

It is a thousand pities that everyone concerned does not turn, as a matter of course, to the rank and file of the Terri tory’s services, in the search for the new administrative heads. Men, to be fit for such high offices, must be born, of course, with certain qualities; but other essen tial qualifications are acquired by prac tical experience. Where could there be a better training and testing-ground for such men than in the Territories them selves? If there are not now, in the service of each Territory, men who can be seriously considered for appointment to the chief posts, then there is something

very much wrong with the system of se lection and training.

Names of men who have been suggested recently for the New Guinea Administra torship are Brigadier-General McNicoll, M.P.; Major-General Sir Thomas Glas gow; Brigadier-General C. H. Brand; Major the Hon. C. W. Marr; and Dr. C. W.

Cilento. Not one of those appointments would be well received. The three gen erals may have excellent military qualifi cations and records; but the New Guinea post does not call in any degree for mili tary knowledge or experience, and it is not apparent that they have any other special claims. Major Marr has had a valuable experience of military life and business and departmental administration, he knows the Islands, and he is dowered with an attractive personality; but his selection would be regarded as an out and-out political appointment, and he would in consequence be greatly handi capped in following the discipline-loving, hard-working, simple-living General Grif fiths. Dr. Cilento is highly-respected as a man and as a scientist; but New Guinea opinion seems to be very strongly op posed to any of the suggested appoint ments.

If one could take the five gentlemen named, and boil them down into one man, probably we might have something near the ideal Administrator for which New Guinea is calling. It is not easy to find the right man. Let us, at least, hope that he is not sought for in dusty, initiative destroying byways of the departmental bureaucracies, nor in the ear-biting, whis pering galleries of Parliament House.