Editorial Note
p. 26 · Read in the full issue
■jl/TR. Mullaly evidently intended that this letter of his should be published—he sent it by registered post!—so published it is—as an interesting example of how long residence in the tropics may destroy a man’s good judgment and natural courtesy.
One or two remarks may be added.
I do not write to please the Mr.
Mullalys of the Pacific; and I do not trim my editorial sails —as this kind gentleman infers —to gain “personal pres tige” or add to “the popularity of the journal.” My articles are based on a sense of personal conviction of what is right, and I do not care twopence whether Mr. Mullaly likes them or not. I admit that I am not always right—but I do my best.
Mr. Mullaly accuses me of “well-known and oft-expressed antipathy towards the highly respectable Chief Judge.” If it were anyone else but Mr. Mullaly I should say that that was an utterance un worthy of a man in Mr. Mullaly’s position.
But Mr. Mullaly is—Mr. Mullaly, and therefore entitled to a little license. Why should I have any “antipathy” towards the Chief Judge? We have had occasion here to question the justice of various sentences he has imposed; and, finally, when the High Court and other Federal authorities cancelled those sentences, I challenged the wisdom of allowing him to continue in charge of that jury-less court in New Guinea. Beyond that, I know nothing about Judge Wanliss, be yond the fact that, as Mr. Mullaly him self says, he has a long record of honourable service in New Guinea.
Mr. Mullaly’s letter shows how an angry man will defeat his own purpose.
He wants to sting me; but he has merely descended to personal abuse, and conse quently achieves little —except that some of my friends will read his diatribe with keen delight.
I will admit, however, that he gets me on that matter of “pomposity.” That is new. I have been conscious of many shortcomings, from temperamental illogi cality to indigestion, but never before of pomposity. It needed a Mullaly to discern
that evil trait!
R. W. Robson.
Directors of Cuthbert’s Misima Goldmine Limited, Papua, have declared a third in terim dividend of sixpence per share pay able on November 27. The Company s transfer books will be closed between No vember 24 and 27.