Hon. H. L. Murray

Unexpired Term as Administrator of Papua

rE position of the Hon. H. Leonard Murray, CBE, who was Adminis trator of Papua when the invasion occurred in 1942. has been the subject of inquiry lately.

Mr. Murray succeeded his uncle, the late Sir Hubert Murray, in 1940, and it was officially announced that his ap pointment was for a term of five years.

The Army took control of Papua in 1942, and Civil Government was suspended.

Mr. Murray went to Sydney, and took up another occupation for the period of the war. Although his Commission had more than two years to run, he received no further salary. His Commission evi dently was regarded as “suspended.”

Late in 1945. the Papua-New Guinea Provisional Government took over, and a new Civil Administrator was placed in charge. All the senior officials of the former Papua and New Guinea Adminis trations who sought positions were re employed; but Mr. Leonard Murray re ceived nothing—an extraordinary and anomalous position.

We sought enlightenment from Can berra: but all Canberra, these days, seems to have ioined the “Sydney Morning Herald’s” famous parrot in its “Curse the Press!” chorus. The only information available there consists of Ministerial “hand-outs” —which are suspect, because they represent merely what Australia’s team of discredited Ministers want pub lished.

From unofficial sources, however, we are informed that the Federal Govern ment has not repudiated its obligations towards Mr. Murray, as is generally sup posed. If the separate Papuan Adminis tration is restored later on—as is pos sible —Mr. Murray will automatically return to his position as Administrator for the remainder of his term. Meanwhile he is permitted to draw superannuation at the rate to which he would have been entitled had he retired in 1942. If the Papua Administration is not restored, Mr.

Murray, presumably, will remain on the retired list.

The position of the Administrator of New Guinea, Sir Walter McNicoll, was different. His appointment was not for any definite term; and in 1942, when the Army took charge of his Territory, he elected to retire, after a period of leave. He was very ill, at Lae, when the invasion occurred, and had a narrow escape. He is now quite well, and he and Lady McNicoll are residents of Syd ney.