An "Easy" War Job?

WHEN the Japs interfered with life in the Australian Territories in 1942, Mr. G. M. Rio was among Terri tories residents who offered his services to the Australian Army. To his astonish ment and the suprise of others who have seen his husky figure he was re jected on medical grounds.

So Mr, Rio crossed over to North Queensland, and sought a soft and easy job, suitable for a medical reject. He found it in stalking and shooting and skinning crocodiles! With Daintree as his headquarters, he worked up a profitable business, selling the “croc” skins to Sydney bootmakers.

Lately, he conceived the idea of sending his crocodile skins to the United States, where there is a demand. He sought official permission. Back came the usual bleat of the Australian bureaucrat: “You may send skins to the United States, provided you conform with the regulation which says that you must furnish a medical certificate that the animals from which they came did not suffer from any contagious disease.”

Mr. Rio has packed up and returned to Papua, where he will manage Vailala Plantation for Steamships Trading Co.

He could not be truthfully described as an admirer of Australian institutions.

A young Tongan, Taloa Foliaki, a cadet in the Treasury, was recently charged with embezzlement and falsifi cation of public accounts. It is alleged that when entrusted with £22 to deposit in a friend’s bank account, he deposited onlv £l3 and appropriated the balance of £9, making a false entry in the pass book. He is awaiting trtal at the next session of the Tongan Supreme Court.

A photograph of Mr. W. D. Bryan (wearing cap), a report of whose death in Rarotonga is published on page 46.

The Dutch Consul in New Caledonia has appealed to Javanese awaiting repatriation to exercise patience and maintain order and discipline wliile con tinuing in their present employment.