Salary For Papua's
p. 19 · Read in the full issue
Head
£1,500 Considered Too Small
I SEE that they are going to pay the Administrator of Papua £1,500 a year,” says a man who formerly was a prominent official in New Guinea.
“Though the cost of living has gone up, and the importance of our Territor ies also, the salary is to be reduced.
Since 1922, the salaries of the Common wealth heads of departments have gone up at least 25 per cent., also other Aus tralian salaries. In my opinion, no man could live with the dignity necessary, and entertain as Administrator, on £1,500 a year. If he had children to edu cate, his position would be an impossible one.
“As you know, the New Guinea Ad ministrator gets £l,BOO, and non-official members have time after time expressed the opinion that the salary is not enough. The cost of living is, if any thing. higher in Papua, In New Guinea, the Chief Judge gets £1,500 a year and recently the puisne Judge’s salary was increased to £1,400. Surely, the position of Administrator of Papua is a more important one.
“Of course, if it is only to be a place to pension off someone, the salary is too much, but if they want a first-class man to maintain the dignity of his position, I think £2,500 a minimum.
“Compare English salaries—there is no Governor of a place like Papua on such a low salary. I think it important to get a good man, about 45 years of ae-e, and. naturally, no man who has proved himself would go for a salary which is at most equal to £1,200 a year in Australia.”