More Officials For Some NG
p. 12 · Read in the full issue
Districts
IT is likely that Lae and Rabaul Dis tricts, New Guinea, will become Grade 3 districts—that is, they will have a Grade 3 District Officer at the head of affairs (Mr. H. Niall, in Lae; Mr. J. K. McCarthy in Rabaul); with possibly a Grade 1 man to assist.
The names of the second District Officers for these districts have not been announced yet, but it is presumed that they will be young men who are now due for promotion from the position of As sistant District Officer.
This will release the Grade 3 officer from a great deal of desk work with which he is burdened at the moment, and which often prevents his visiting his out stations.
In addition to these officers, there pro bably will be a third District Officer (Grade 2) who will be the local magis trate, whose work is of a specialised character and for which considerable ex perience is necessary.
The work of the Assistant District Officer will then be purely with the local natives—a big job in a district like Rabaul.
Whether this multiplicity of officials is desirable is a moot point; but it prob ably is necessary in the post-war era that has made a fetish of rules, regu lations and red-tape. The job of the senior official in war-torn New Guinea to-day is no sinecure.
There have also been some changes in the construction and functions of the Native Labour Department. During the period of the Provisional Administration this Department appeared to act quite independently of the Department of District Services, with the result that in some Districts there was friction be tween the local District Officer and the Native Labour Officer. It is to be hoped that the changes that have been made will be of benefit to the general public, for whom the Native Labour Department has particular significance.