Canberra And A Cook.

CANBERRA’S system of appointing inexperienced ex-politicians as adminstrators of territories, and then sitting on their necks and denying them authority to do anything worth while, was demonstrated recently. Mr Abbott, the ex-M.P. who now rules at Darwin, wanted to employ a temporary cook launderess. Tlhe matter became the subject of much correspondence in a bulky official file, and eventually the Min ister at Canberra made the appointment.

Could bureaucratic fatuity go further?

Mr. David Stewart, sales manager of Holbrooks, Ltd., left Sydney by the “Malaita” on March 19 for a tour through the Solomons, to Rabaul, N.G., where he will connect with the “Montoro”, returning to Sydney via N.G. and Papuan ports.

After visiting Sydney and Melbourne, the French sloop “Rigault de Genouilly” sailed from Australia for New Caledonia early in March. From Noumea she will go on to France.