One Capital for Papua

and New Guinea Some Interesting History

Letter to the Editor.

THE idea that Port Moresby should be the administrative centre for the two territories of Papua and the Man dated Territory (put forward recently by Mr. Fairbairn. M.P., and jeered at by Mr.

Hughes) is not new.

As long ago as 1919, the suggestion was very carefully considered by a Royal Com mission. consisting of Sir Hubert Murray, Mr. Atlee Hunt and Mr. Walter Lucas.

Sir Hubert recommended that the Man dated Territory, and also the British Solomons, if possible, should be grouped with Papua for purposes of administra tion: and he argued that, if it were ne cessary that the Mandated Territory and the British Solomons should be kept separate for the purpose of legislative and internal administration, there was no sound reason why one service, under the control of one administrator, should not be responsible for the whole area. The other two members of the Commission, however, took the view that the Mandated Territory should be a completely indepen dent administration; and that was the view accepted by Mr. Hughes, who was then Prime Minister.

I think it can be fairly claimed now that the opinion of Sir Hubert Murray has been completely justified by the events and developments of the past 20 years: and, since the necessity of finding another administrative centre for New Guinea has arisen, and since the ad ministration of the Mandated Territory is generally and frequently the subject of adverse criticism, the scorn and indigna tion of Mr. Hughes concerning the sug gestion of Mr. Fairbairn (which virtually was that the original Murray plan should be reverted to) is a little difficult to understand.

I am. etc.,

Ex Papuan Official.

Sydney, Sept. 12.