Muddledom!

A LETTER from England, from Mr.

John Ellis, formerly a resident of the Solomon Islands, indicates that the floundering Socialists there are not making any better job of government than the unhappy politicians in Australia and New Zealand: “Nationalised coal mines here don’t seem to work any better than Govern ment brickworks and other schemes at your end. The muddling would-be merchants have concentrated on exports, and never given the men who know how to run the export machine a chance.

Now the machine has come to a stop for want of export foresight. But these muddlers still go gaily on their road to destruction—and, incidentally, the dis integration of the Empire. Indians are ready to cut their own throats as well as the white man’s. Burma now wants independence and, shortly ‘Billy Malaita’ will want his independence. Oh, this Sosialism is a glorious thing—to leave alone!”

Mr. Larry Dwyer, Agricultural Inspector for the War Damage Commission, was in Sydney in March. He will return to New Guinea shortly.

Captain H. W. Bell, well known to old Territorians as a one-time Master of BP’s “Maiwara,” but who now is Marine Super intendent of the United Corporation of China Shipping Department, in Shanghai, has been in Sydney for some months supervising the purchase of ships for his corporation. He left recently for China.

Mrs. Bell, who has many Territorian friends is still living in Sydney.