Resigns

Senior N.G. Officer Resigns K. C. McMullen Transfers to Carpenters' Staff

MR. KEN C. McMULLEN, who was a well - known Assistant District Officer in New Guinea when the invasion occurred, and who subsequently distinguished himself in ANGAU, has re signed from the service of the Papua-New Guinea Provisional Administration, and has joined the staff of W. R. Carpenter & Co., Ltd., where he will be an execu tive officer.

Mr. McMullen joined the New Guinea service in 1925 and, having served 20 years, had become eligible to retire on pension.

He was in charge at Wau when the Japs invaded New Guinea.

He served with the British Military Ad ministration in Borneo in 1945, with the rank of Colonel.

News of the resignation caused surprise in Australia. Mr. McMullen was regarded as one of the best men in the District Services. He had charge at Lae when Civil Administration was restored there, last year; he then was sent to Rabaul, to reintroduce Civil rule there: and then, when acute troubles arose between the returning civilian set-up and the War Disposals Commission, Mr. McMullen was sent to headquarters at Port Moresby,

to act as a sort of liaison between Administration and Commission.

Whether there is any connection be tween Mr. McMullen’s resignation and the things that the Government allowed the War Disposals Commission to do in the Territories, is not known. Mr. McMullen, however, is the type of man who can ill be spared by the New Guinea Admin istration under the present difficult con ditions.