N. Guinea Administration

Delay In Announcing The Two Deputies

THE delay in announcing the appoint ment of two Deputy Administrators for Papua-New Guinea—applications were invited in October—probably is con nected with the new Australian Govern ment’s dissatisfaction with the Socialist appointed Administrator of the Territory (Colonel J. K. Murray).

The opinion is held in some influential circles that there is little use appointing the two best available men to be Deputy Administrators unless Canberra is happy with the chief Administrator, and satis fied that he will work in harmony with his Deputies. Others hold the view that Papua-New Guinea will not be assisted by the appointment of Deputy Adminis trators—that to find the cause of the Territories’ present troubles Canberra must look higher and dig deeper. (An indication of what this journal believes to be the cause of the difficulties in Papua-New Guinea is given in the article on page 6.) It is known that over 100 applications for the two Deputy positions were re ceived in October-November. They have been under official scrutiny, and now are in the hands of a panel of qualified men, appointed by the Minister, which is care fully examining certain applications and, in some cases, interviewing the appli cants.

It is not known when an announcement will be made. It was thought, in Can berra, early in December, that there would be an announcement before the holidays.

It is thought now that, pending some clarification of the Administrator’s powers and authority, the appointments may be delayed.