Knighthood

No Honour Where

Honour Is Due

Thomas Griffiths’ Claim to Knighthood

THERE has been sharp comment on the manner in which the Federal Govern ment allowed that very successful Pacific Administrator, Brigadier-General T. Grif fiths, to retire from his work in New Guinea and disappear into private life in Australia without any notable word being said in recognition of the splendid service he has given to the Commonwealth.

General Griffiths was the first military Administrator of New Guinea; subse quently he served the Commonwealth in various capacities, particularly as Adminis trator of Nauru and as a commissioner dealing with Pacific affairs; and there is no doubt that his splendid work at Rabaul in between 1932 and 1934 brought tran quillity to a territory that had been seeth ing with unrest and discontent.

If ever a man deserved the recognition of good service that is conferred by knighthood it is Thomas Griffiths. But because he loathes the limelight and is in no sense a political “tuft-hunter.” he has been allowed to go off to his quiet Mel bourne home without any outstanding reference being made to his most credit able record. Presumably, all sorts of people of no real consequence will be adorned with titles within the next few months; but the claims of General Griffiths probably will be overlooked, unless some one stirs up the politicians to the need for doing the right thing.

Mr. Phillip Laurence Jackson, of the Bainings District, New Guinea, died at Namanula Hospital, Rabaul, in October, after a short illness. In June, 1926, he entered the New Guinea Administration, and was attached to the Government Sec retary’s Department. Resigning from the service in July, 1928, he took up planting at Nambung, Bainings.

French doctors and officials subjecting Javanese coolies to the usual close scrutiny before they are allowed to land from the Dutch steamer “Van Rees” at Noumea, New Caledonia. The coolies parade naked and the doctors examine them from their mouths to the soles of their feet.