17 Ministers In

17 Years!

How Australia Has Governed Her Territories

rE editor of the “PIM” had the impression that, since the “PIM” was established, there have been an awful lot of Territories Ministers. A friend, in Melbourne, wrote to the same effect. So we asked the Secretary of the External Territories Department if he could supply a list: and he very cour teously sent us the details published below.

Seventeen Ministers in 17 years! Is it any wonder that Australian administra tion in Papua and New Guinea has been handicapped by a hesitating, fumbling policy, and no policy at all? Here is the record:—

Portfolio Held by Date Date Ministers for assumed relin- Home and office quished Territories.— office Sir C. W. C. Marr .. 2/ 4/27 24/ 2/28 Sir Nevile R. Howse . 24/ 2/28 29711/28 C. L. A, Abbott .. . . 29/11/28 9/12/28 Prime Minister.—Powers in relation to External Territories delegated to:— Sir George Pearce .. 10/12/28 22/10/29 John A. Beasley .. .. 22/10/29 3/ 3/31 Joseph B. Chifley . .. 3/ 3/31 6/ 1/32 Sir C. W. C. Marr . . 6/ 1/32 23/ 4/34 James A. Guy 24/ 4/34 23/ 5/34 Sir Harry Lawson , .. 24/ 5/34 12/10/34 Sir George Pearce 12/10/34 29/11/37 W. M. Hughes .. 29/11/37 7/11/38 E. J. Harrison 8/11/38 26/ 4/39 John A. Perkins .. 26/ 4/39 14/ 3/40 H. K. Nock 14/ 3/40 28/10/40 J. J. Collins 28/10/40 26/ 6/41 Ministers for External Territories.— A. McK. McDonald .. 26/ 6/41 7/10/41 Senator J. Fraser .. 7/10/41 21/ 9/43 Edward J. Ward .. .. 21/ 9/43