Visit To Robaul
p. 12 · Read in the full issue
From Our Own Correspondent
Rabaul, Aug. 7.
THE Governor-General of Australia, Mr.
McKell, and party are visiting Rabaul and district between August 5 and August 8.
On arrival in Rabaul by air at 1.30 p.m. on August 5 he was met by Mr. W. E. Sansom, District Officer,
New Britain District; Mr. W. J.
Read, District Officer, New Ireland District, Mr. R. Farlow, District Officer, Bougain ville District; Mr. E. Britten District Officer, (Magistrate), Rabaul; Mr. C. Normoyle, Senior Inspector of Police; Mr. J. R. Kee nan, Assistant District Officer, Rabaul; Bishop L. Scharmach and Father Copas, representing Catholic Mission of the Sacred Heart; The Rev. Mr. Flatten, rep resenting the Methodist Mission; Pastor Judd, representing the Seventh-Day Ad ventists Mission; Mr. E. V. Smythe, Pre sident RSS&AILA; Mr. B. Ryan, manager, Burns Philp (New Guinea) Ltd.; Mr. V. Pearson, manager. Colyer Watson Ltd.; Mr. B. B. Perriman. managing-director, New Guinea Company; Mr. J. L. Chipper, President, Planters and Traders’ Association of New Guinea.
Throughout his visit he resided at the home of the District Officer, New Britain.
The following programme, arranged in advance, has been generally adhered to: On the afternoon of August 5, a visit to Rabaul Hospital, local schools, re ceive a public welcome at the cricket ground and attend a reception in the grounds of Mr. E. Britten’s residence in Rabaul.
On August 6, a visit to Bitapaka war cemetery, visit the site of the new town that is to replace Rabaul and lunch at the Vunapope Mission.
In the afternoon return to Rabaul where he will present war decora tions to the following;— Major R. I. Skinner of Talasea, Military Cross; Captain F. M. Boisen of Sohano.
Military Cross; Lt. C. W. Blake of Rabaul.
Military Medal; Captain W. M. English of Kokopo, MBE (Military Division): G. H.
R. Marsland of Witu, MBE (Civil Divi sion) ; Chin Hoi Meen of Rabaul, King’s Medal in the Cause of Freedom; L/Cpl.
Benge of the RPC, Royal Humane Society’s Medal.
Mr. McKell will have no engagements on Sunday and will depart from Rabaul on the morning of August 8.
The Governor-General was accompanied on this tour by his son, Mr. W.
G. McKell, and attended by Major H. W.
Pope, MC. He travelled in the Dakota provided for his regular use by the RAAF.
Mr. McKell, before he was selected for this post by Mr. Chifley, was the Labour Premier of New South Wales.
According to the Budget for 1948-49, Mr.
McKell receives a salary of £10,000 per annum, and is allowed £7,560 p.a. for wages of staff, £7,500 p.a. for the upkeep of his residence, £2,000 for “watching service” at Admiralty House, Sydney, £5,440 p.a. for incidental expenditure, and £7,800 p.a. for the cost oi maintaining the Governor-General’s office—a total of about £40,000 p.a.—Ed. “PIM.”]