Good New Guinea Service

Went Unmarked

IT was typical of Canberra’s attitude towards the public service of New Guinea (Mandated Territory) that, in the 20 years that Australia controlled the Territory, only one officer received a deco ration in recognition of good service; and that was only the MBE, which does not rank high. Two or three decorations (KBE and so forth) were given after the Rabaul earthquake—but they had nothing to do with general public service.

In other Territories—especially those under the control of the British Colonial Office—long and good service is certain to earn the distinctions which official people value so much. Never a New Year’s Day or King’s Birthday passes without a long list of Orders being awarded to men who have distinguished themselves in the administrative field.

There were several men in the New Guinea service who deserved rank and recognition—men who had nut into their difficult jobs the best they knew, and whose record would compare favourably with most of those of the British Colonial Service. Practically every departmental head was a really distinquished man— especially H. H. Page, G. G. Hogan, Robert Melrose, E. Tavlor, H. O. Townsend, E. P.

Holmes and George Murray. It is to be hoped that, even in the confused after math of war, their quarter-century's ser vice will not be again forgotten.

Mr Geoffrey Bucknell, who was acci dentally killed on his farm at West Wvalong NSW, recently, was a son ol Mr. and Mrs. C. J. Bucknell, of Koro Levu, Fiji. He was born in the Colony, but came to Australia to take up farming about 18 years ago.