Sydney Welfare Bureau
p. 67 · Read in the full issue
Closes
A. J. Gaskin Goes North
THE Australian Department of External Territories Welfare Bureau, which has been functioning in Sydney and Canberra under the direction of Mr.
A. J. Gaskin and Mr. H. Downing, since last September, closed down on Decem ber 24. The bureau was set up in special premises at 40 King Street, Sydney, to deal with repatriated POW and civilian internees from the New Guinea Terri tories. The bureau, however, had tragic ally little work to do, due to the sink ing of the “Montevideo Maru’’ and the loss of nearly all of the civilians from the Rabaul area.
Since the closing of the bureau in December, all matters concerning former residents of the Territories reported miss ing are being dealt with by the Depart ment of External Territories, Canberra; and other matters, formerly dealt with by the bureau, by the Department of Ex ternal Territories, Australia House, Car rington Street, Sydney. (Tel. BW 1776.) New Guinea residents still in Australia will be sorry to 'hear that Mr. A. J.
Gaskin will leave again for Rabaul and Port Moresby in January, this time as Commerce Member of Production Control Board.
It is understood that he will be in charge of stores.
He has been a tower of strength to evacuees, both as an officer of the De partment of External Territories, and as president of the New Guinea Branch of the RSSAILA. His good work on behalf of New Guinea and New Guinea people, however, will probably be carried on in his new job up north.