Questioned

Norfolk Is. Appointment Questioned

rE appointment of Mr. Alex Wilson as Administrator of Norfolk Island was still being disputed in the House of Representatives in Canberra by Mr.

Anthony, on April 11.

Previously, Mr. Anthony had asked the Minister for External Territories (Mr.

Ward) several questions concerning the appointment, but found the answers unsatisfactory.

Mr. Anthony said that there were many distinguished Servicemen who had served Australia well in the Middle East and the Islands who would have been perfectly suitable for such a post—but it was given to Mr. Wilson, “ex-member for Wimmera, an ex-stooge of the Govern ment.”

He said that the post had not been advertised, and Mr. Ward’s statement that the “qualifications of all those who were considered suitable and available for the post were considered” would not be regarded as an adequate answer by Ser vicemen. Mr. Wilson happened to pos sess the Qualification of having been a supporter of the Government at a critical time, but no other qualification.

The appointment reeked of everythin? that is undesirable. It was a shameless method of paying for political support at the expense of every decent ex- Serviceman who might have a claim.

Plenty of men who served through six years of war with great merit are now thrown on the scrap-heap. The other day, the Minister for Air (Mr. Drakeford) announced the retirement of certain high-ranking officers of the Air Force Such men as Bostock, Williams and Lucas have been given notice of their retirement. Anv one of those men would be qualified to fill this iob, but they were not °lven the opportunity to apply.

EDITORIAL NOTE: For nearly 20 years, we have been protesting against the Australian practice of appointing superannuated Parliamentarians and political favourites to Pacific Adminis tratorships, and ignoring the trained men of the tropical public services. It is gratifying to note that at least one Aus tralian MP has the vision and the cour age to attack the rotten system.