Mr. E. C. Harris

Retiring From Treasury of Papua.

HON. E. C. HARRIS,. Treasurer of the Territory of Papua, who is at pre sent on leave in Australia, has noti fied his intention of retiring at the ex piration of his long leave and furlough.

Mr. S. Smith, Accountant of the Treas ury Department in Papua, has been act ing as Treasurer. It is anticipated that a permanent appointment to the position will be made in the near future.

Mr. Harris was first appointed as clerk, Treasury and Customs Department. Sa marai, in September. 1908. and he has spent his working life in the Depart ment. He reached the Treasurer’s chair in April, 1927, and since then he has been also a Member of the Executive and Legislative Councils.

Mr. Harris will be greatly missed in Papua. He has been an outstanding figure among Sir Hubert Murray’s fine little group of departmental heads—all men noted for their probity, their devo tion to duty and their sound common sense. Mr. Harris is a plain-speaking, unconventional man. who holds the good will of everyone. Some might disagree with him, but all respect him. Although he is retiring, he looks as if he will live for another 20 or 30 years. AH who have met him in business or social life will hope that he will see the full span, and that he will be happy under the new con ditions.

The Matson Navigation Company,

which operates the “Monterey” and

“Mariposa” in Australasian waters,

announced this week that it had earned 2,246,712 dollars nett in 1937, or 250,000 dollars less than in 1936. Current assets of the line were given as 12,081,867 dollars as compared with 10,262,000 dollars at the end of 1936.