Why Paton And

Penglase?

THE ways of officialdom pass all understanding.

Mr. Penglase, formerly a District Officer in New Guinea, and more recently a major in ANGAU, and Professor Paton, of the Law School of Melbourne Uni versity, are being sent to Britain to undergo a course (six weeks) at the “School of Military Re-Occupation,” which “devotes its activities to the train ing of men for administrative posts in territories re-taken from the enemy.”

Does it not seem ridiculous that men should be sent all the way from Australia to England to undergo a six-weeks’ course? What can they learn in six weeks in England about the adminis tration of re-occupied New Guinea which could not be taught in Australia?

And what qualities were taken into consideration in selecting these particular two men for this pleasant jaunt to Eng land? Why Professor Paton and why Mr.

Penglase?

Professor Paton, no doubt, is an out standing person—he otherwise would not be a professor in so eminent an institu tion. But what is this eminent legal gentleman supposed to learn in this special school in six weeks, which presum ably will give him the right to ride into Pacific Territories’ administration, over the heads of equally qualified men who have devoted a lifetime to the study of tropical conditions? If a legal man is needed for this special training, why over look the outstanding claims of Judge F.

B. Phillips, CBE, LLM, formerly a Judge of the New Guinea Supreme Court and a distinguished Deputy Administrator, who now is holding down an important RAAF job in Britain? Or those of Judge R. T. Gore, the equally distinguished head of the Central Court of Papua, who also acted, on occasions, as Administrator of that Territory?

And why Mr. Penglase, rather than any other of a dozen distinguished young of ficials of the New Guinea Public Service, who have done so well in their wartime jobs? All who know New Guinea have re spect and esteem for “Nat” Penglase; but not to the extent that the claims of several other New Guinea public officials for preferment can be ruled out.

What bureaucrat or brasshat made these selections, anyway?