Invidious Comparisons

Letter to the Editor. in Raoaui will heartily endorse the awards made in connec tion with the Rabaul eruption, announced to-day. But will you, sir, piease explain why the biggest ana most conspicuous award of ail —a knighthood—should be given to the Administrator when, as everyone knows, thd Administrator did not return to Rabaul until 48 hours alter the eruption. Among the Administrator s most notable acts, after his return was the cancellation of Judge Phillips s cir cular to the residents (a copy oi which i attach for your information) and his insistence, in less than a fortnight after the eruption, that Rabaul was fit for reoccupation. The award of a knighthood to General McNicoll, tor services ren dered in connection with the eruption, makes the other well-deserved awards seem rather paltry.

Further, can you explain why there is no recognition for the radio men, who stood so very gallantly by their posts, and did good service aiso at Kokopo? Also, if there were knighthoods going, why not one each for the captain and purser of the Montorof

I am, etc..

Rabaulite.

Sydney, Dec. 15.

EDITORIAL NOTE: Sorry—we cannot answer our correspondent’s questions. Most Administra tors get knighthoods sooner or later—although General Wisdom escaped without one after 11 years of pioneering service, and General Griffiths got no titular award whatever, although he had served Australia in many ways for conspicuous success. It might have caused less comment if General McNicoll had received his knighthood as a New Year Honour, and not been associated so conspicuously with the humbler heroes —and heroines of the eruption. The failure to recog nise the outstanding services of the radio officers is surprising. The most remarkable omission, however, is the Bishop and staff of Vunapope Mission. Those devoted people cared, in the very generous and self-sacrificing fashion, for many hundreds of refugees—European, Chinese, and natives—and it is extraordinary that they have not at least been publicly thanked by the Com monwealth Government.