Service?

Why Not One

Australian Tropical Territories' Administration

AUSTRALIAN newspapers practically ignored pleas made in the Common wealth Parliament for a reform of the system under which Papua and the Man dated Territory are governed; and Ministers concerned replied evasively, and in general terms. Yet the speeches were logical, and well-supported by facts.

Sir Charles Marr, on September 23, argued in favour of one territorial ser vice. “At present”, he said, “we have five territories, with different ordinances and various kinds of administration, as well as separate superannuation schemes.

Whilst I realize that New Guinea cannot be amalgamated with Papua, it would be possible to have one service, so that of ficers could be transferred from one ter ritory to another. One director of agri culture and one director of medical ser vices should be sufficient for all terri tories”.

Mr. Green: “Could that system be adopted in regard to a mandated terri tory?”

Sir Charles Marr: “Yes. In Tangan yika, the British territory and the man dated territory are under one adminis tration”.

Mr. Green: “The patrol service in New Guinea is superior to those in any other parts of the world”.

Sir Charles Marr: “Yes; but as soon as a principal position in the service becomes vacant, an outside officer is appointed, although he may have no knowledge whatever of the work required to be done.

The men already in the service, who have been trained as patrol officers, assistant magistrates, land officers, mining officers, and so on, should be given the oppor tunity to fill the highest positions avail able”.

On October 6, Mr. J. V. Fairbairn, who recently visited New Guinea, suggested that there should be one capital for the territories of New Guinea and Papua, that there should be one administrative service for the territories, and that men should be trained for this service who could interchange with all the territories —Papua, New Guinea, Nauru, and the Northern Territory, and that there should be one pension system for all the territory service.

“I think that our people have a genius for this type of work, and that we should train them and do everything we can do improve the high state of efficiency they have attained,” he added. (This matter is dealt with also in an article on page 34.) Miss J. March, of the Methodist Mission at Vunairima, New Britain, will retire from missionary activities in December, 1939.

Miss Loma Dick, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. G. Dick, of Suva, Fiji, returned to the Colony recently after completing a nursing training overseas.

Miss E. Brabin, 8.A., has notified the Board of the Methodist Mission that ow ing to domestic circumstances, she will be obliged to retire in September, next year.

Miss Brabin is at present working at the Vunairima station, T.N.G.