Territories

New Minister For the Territories

A LTHOUGH the Federal general election in Australia, as forecast in our issue of October, resulted in the return of the Lyons Government to office, Cabinet changes are pending which are of direct interest to the Pacific terri tories.

Senator Sir George Pearce, who has been Minister in Charge of Pacific Terri tories for some years, was defeated, and a< new minister will take charge of Is lands affairs. Sir Archdale Parkhill, Minister for Defence-, also was defeated, and this is of interest to Pacific residents because many matters connected with aviation, aerial transport, and defence organisation in the Islands were under his direct supervision.

Sir George Pearce was always a cour teous and conscientious minister, and thereby gained many friends and admir ers; but he was sometimes criticised be cause he appeared to leave important matters of Pacific Islands administration entirely in the hands of the Administra tors, when some Ministerial interference seemed to be called for; and he apneared to interfere in administrative matters at other times when interference caused only confusion and delay.

Sir Archdale Parkhill was a minister of great energy and activity, and had a reputation for getting things done. If Pacific residents in the future have cause to complain of exasperating delays in the development of aviation schemes, they can lay the blame on the untimely re moval from office of this minister.