Minor Pacific Mystery

The NSW branch of the New Guinea Comforts Funds—a worthy organisation which supplies comforts for New Guinea men on active service abroad—is now holding its meetings every Thursday morning at the Feminist Club in King street, Sydney. Any New Guinea-ite, resident in Sydney, who would like to join in this good work should communi cate with the hon. secretary—Mrs. Rita J. Brinson, whose telephone number is FU 6522.

Mr. A. C. Turnbull, Acting-

Administrator of the Mandated Territory of Western Samoa—and one of the minor mysteries of the Pacific. No one can understand why this capable, quietly spoken man should have been allowed to remain “Acting-Administrator” for six years. He was appointed to that post by the New Zealand Labour Government in 1935; and —presumably because he has carried out his duties quietly and loyally, and not howled about his status—he has remained “acting”, ever since. Through out administrative circles in the Pacific, the treatment of Mr. Turnbull by the NZ Government is described as “shock ing” and “disgraceful”—but neither Mr.

Turnbull nor the Government seems to be worrying about it. The Government never has offered any explanation of its extraordinary treatment of this import ant public official.

Mr. Turnbull has been in Samoa since 1930, and has been Acting-Administrator since 1935. He was born in New Zea land, the son of a bank manager, and he joined the NZ Public Service in 1899, served in the Lands and Survey Dept., became chief clerk, accountant, and fin ally inspector. He served in Great War I with the Canterbury Regiment. Prior to taking over, on the departure of General Sir Herbert Hart from Apia, Mr. Turn bull was Secretary to the Administration.

Mr. and Mrs. Turnbull have one daugh ter, now at school in Auckland. The Acting-Administrator visited Sydney with other delegates to the Pacific Copra Con ference in January.

Photo—May Moore, Sydney.