British Colonial Office
p. 64 · Read in the full issue
Monthly Journal Issued By
THE British Socialist Minister who presides over the Colonial Office, Mr. A, Creech Jones, writes the “Foreword” of Corona, a new journal which now is being published (monthly, we presume, although it does not say so) for the British Colonial Office. The Minister warmly approves the plan, and welcomes this first number.
The first number of Corona is an at tractive production, and it should be of interest and help to the great British Colonial Service, scattered so widely across the world. There must be, among BCO men, an enormous mass of material which could be made of fascinating in terest to both officials and general readers. The problem lies in getting it from the official in the field onto the printed page. That is the task of the editor. He has made a good start.
But it would be unwise to expect too much of Corona. Every Socialist Minister hates the independent press, and plays with the idea of producing his own Departmental journal. We have seen plenty of such efforts in Australia.
Corona says: “The Secretary of State does not necessarily endorse any opinions expressed in this journal, nor does any of its contents necessarily represent the official policy.” Fine; but does anyone expect Corona to attack British Socialist policy at home, or criticise and expose the errors of BCO administration abroad!
That is fatal objection to such journals.
They are not free, while politicians and bureaucrats—their bosses—are fallible.
The interests and activities of the British Colonial Office world are admirably served by The Crown Colonist, one of the best monthly newspaper reviews published in Britain. It is not very critical of BCO. but it nevertheless is independent of officialdom: its editors very definitely have a mind of their own; it is a highly profitable enterprise; and so, of course, a Socialist Minister does not like it very much.
Miss E. Hardingham and Miss P. Mills, of the Methodist Mission, Fiji, have re turned there after three months’ leave in Australia.
The Rev. R. L. Barnes of the Methodist Overseas Mission, New Ireland, attended the Queensland Methodist Conference which was held in Brisbane recently. His wife, formerly Miss M. Vanderse, is a trained nurse, and will return to the mission station with him.
It has been announced in Noumea that the following officers serving locally have been awarded; the order of the Legion d’Honneur: Dr. Colonel Sanner (officer); and supply officer Albatro, Capt. Pore and Lieut, de THopital Felce (chevaliers).