Word Of Warning

New Guinea Administratorship

THE “Canberra Times” of June 29, after referring to a reported move to appoint a member of the House of Represen tatives to the Administratorship of New Guinea, says a few words in season: — “If the Government gives way to this pressure and appoints an untrained and unfitted person to be Administrator of New Guinea, it will be committing a grave crime against Australia’s interests and safety in the Pacific. The appointment of the Administrator of New Guinea is not a matter for personal concern by any inter est. It is purely a matter of selecting an Administrator who is equipped in every way to discharge his office to meet the most exacting requirements of the man date.

“The appointment is one which is bound to have far-reaching effects. It must be remembered that the Permanent Mandates Commission is at present constituted of representatives of countries who have no interest in New Guinea other than the proper discharge of their duties as mem bers of the Mandates Commission. The Mandates Commission might not always be so constituted. For instance, if Germany were to make one of the conditions of her return to the League of Nations, that she be given a seat on the Mandates Commis sion, Australia would have to face very searching and embarrassing questions if the qualifications of Administrators were investigated.

“It is essential that Australia should keep this Administratorship free from the evils of patronage, political pull, army and navy club pressure, and be guided only by the highest motives in all future appoint ments. Only our own political stupidity and personal cupidity can lose New Guinea for us. Both should be banished from connection with this stewardship of ours in New Guinea.”