May Be Early Changes

Administration Of

Papua-N. Guinea

May Be Early Changes At Top Level

IT is believed that preparations are afoot for an almost complete reorganisation of the administrative machinery of Papua-New Guinea, at top levels.

If there is no sharp worsening in the international situation, an announcement may be made by the Minister for External Territories (Mr. Spender) before the end of the year.

Applications for the two positions of Deputy Administrator —invited in October —have been under careful scrutiny. It is safe to assume that this has involved consideration of the suitability of Colonel J. K. Murray for the chief position which ne holds—that of Administrator.

Obviously, it is little use appointing the Dest available men to be Deputy Admin istrators unless they can work in harmony with the Chief Administrator, In the circumstances of Colonel Murray’s ap pointment, there is doubt about the har mony.

Observers of the External Territories set-up hope that the statement by the Minister, if it is made this month, will— * Clear up the situation in regard to the future occupant of the position of Admin istrator. • Give the names of the two Deputy Administrators. • Give some indication of what is to be 3one about filling the chief Departmental oositions. (At present, the Government Secretary, Director of District Services, md other occupants of high positions, are ‘Acting”). • More clearly define the future status md authority of District Officers.

ALTHOUGH Colonel Murray (in civil life a professor of agriculture in the University of Queensland) had had 10 previous experience of tropical admin istration, and apparently had ofily a superficial knowledge of Territories con litions, he was selected by the Socialist Minister, E. J. Ward, to put into opera ion Mr. Ward’s revolutionary policy of 3 -NG administration.

It was difficult to see, in his first four or ive years of office, where Canberra con rol ceased and Colonel Murray’s functions jommenced. He was not popular; but, jecause he is a cultured gentleman, ad lering honestly to principles in which he jelieves, he was respected, and not criti cised much.

But, during 1950, there has been a nounting volume of criticism directed igainst Colonel Murray. It gradually has Decome known that Minister Ward, in f 949, when it was clear that the Chifley Government would probably be wiped out n the December election, extended the ippointment of Colonel Murray for an )ther five years.

This was an iniquitous thing. Every )ne —except Ward’s own friends and cronies—was dissatisfied about conditions n New Guinea. It was plain that one the first acts of a new non-Socialist Government would be to review the Lerritories set-up; and the new broom necessarily would extend to the Socialist Minister’s chief executive officer.

But the new Minister, when he arrived, found Colonel Murray securely enthroned at Konedobu, and obviously unprepared to leave without some kind of an official earthquake or explosion.

The new Minister, apparently, decided

that he would introduce a new regime without unseating the chief executive of the old regime; and proceeded accordingly.

But it did not work. It has been appar ent, for months, that there is something seriously wrong with the administrative machinery of Papua-New Guinea.

The P-NG Administration service will not function properly under a chief who has been placed in a false position by political patronage, and who apparently cannot appreciate the fact that he has become the main obstacle in the way of far-reaching administrative reforms.

New Guinea wants something more than a mere office-holder, or rubber stamp.

New Guinea, as a matter of fact, demands a man who can combine knowledge of tropical conditions with clear-cut purpose and a ruthlessness that will t(plerate neither inefficiency and nepotism in the Services, nor bureaucratic interference by Canberra. The more of a dictator he is, the more successful he will be.