Officials?

Why Not Consult The Officials?

Canberra, and Problems of New Guinea

Letter to the Editor IT is to be regretted that, with the un limited supply of sound data available amongst Administration representa tives in this (Morobe) District, no one has officially sought the advice or recom mendations of such outstanding officials as Taylor, Feldt. Penglase, Roberts, Down ing, Kyle, Vial, Black and other District and Patrol Officers, concerning the value of Lae and* Wau as administrative centres, and concerning the best way of opening up the country. These are all .able and respected men, whose advice would cer tainly be worth having.

Moreover, they are beyond bribery or corruption, both in regard to “party funds ’, or political influence. They have no axe to grmd, neither are they looking for spoils to be gamed as a result of their recommendations, if consulted.

It was, and still is, generally accepted that the Selection Committee were a practical and honest comomation, and it will ever remam a mystery to the people of New Guinea, as well as those outside, why then recommendations were not ac cepted. If they were incompetent, then why were they selected for such an im portant work? If they were not, then it was a waste of money to send them on what now appears a wild goose chase.

I am. etc.,

Salamaua.

New Guinea, 21/11/’3B.

Editorial Note

It is surprising to know that those well-known officials have not been con sulted. (It is presumed that our corres pondent knows what he is talking about./ Still, the intelligent people at Canberra who ignore the Territory officials now, ignored them in exactly the same way when Administrators were wanted for New Guinea, Northern Territory, Norfolk Island and Nauru. Ex-politicians and ex soldiers, with no experience of tropical administration, have been appointed to the chief positions, and the proved and experienced men of the tropical services have been passed over.

That vicious system has persisted for years. It was typical of the administra tions of Sir George Pearce and Mr.

Hughes; and it is almost too much to hope that the new Minister (Mr. Harri son) will break it down.