H. W. Champion
p. 42 · Read in the full issue
Retirement of Distinguished Papua Official
WE learn, on the eve of going to press, that the Hon. H. W. Champion, QBE, now residing in Sydney, has retired from the post of Government Secretary of Papua and Commissioner for Native Affairs. Next to Sir Hubert Mur ray, he was Australia’s most distinguished officer in the field of Pacific administra tion.
Mr. Champion was born in New Zea land 63 years ago, and educated in Christchurch. During his lifetime of ser vice in Papua, he administered the Gov ernment on at least a score of occa sions, in the absence of the Governor.
In one respect he has done more for Papua than any other man—he gave to the Papuan service three sons (Ivan, Claude and Alan), all of whom have reached high administrative posts and rendered distinguished service. The story of remarkable recent exploits by at least two of these young men must await the end of the war in New Guinea.
As the Hon. S. Smith (Treasurer) also has retired, only E. B. Bignold and W.
R. Humphries now remain, of the seven Departmental heads who were official members of the Legislative Council at the evacuation (Feb., 1942).