Administrative Authority
pp. 75-76 · Read in the full issue
Letter to the Editor YOUR editorial “The Administrator ship of New Guinea” (January PIM) suggests more newer for the District Commissioners. But how much power, and with what practical appeal from its possible misuse?
The result might be the setting up in any Division of a little Dictator, from whose decisions both natives and Euro peans would have no real redress, if they felt that they were being treated with less than justice.
You also express the opinion that the Administrator of the day, whoever he might happen to be, should have more power, so that minor matters would not be referred to Canberra. In that case, and for the same reason, the Adminis trator could be selected from one field only; the Judiciary.
With odd (very odd) exceptions, Mr.
Justice So-and-so possesses a first-class intellect and a trained sense of strict impartiality, or he would not be on the Bench.
His job has given him a wide knowledge of human nature and its queer ways, and if he has any political leanings he has kept them under his hat since he was raised to the Judiciary.
To such a man any section or individual member of the community, brown or white, Left or Right, could appeal, if it was felt that petty injustice was being suffered. We have had such a man in Papua in the past.
I am, etc.
G. T. Gemmell
Mariboi Estate, Papua, 11/3/51.
Two children, son and daughter of Mr.
Narruhn, engineer of the MV Tovata. aged seven and four respectively, had a lucky escape from drowning when they accidentally slipped into the water at Walu Bay. Suva, on December 16.
Arnold Goulding, a boy of eleven, managed to haul out the little boy who was close by, but the girl was further out. Arnold called for help and Mr. George Patterson of Levuka who was in his launch nearby, jumped in fully clothed and rescued the girl.
Mr. J. B. Leslie, who has been Suva manager of the Vacuum Oil Company for the past two years, returned to Australia at the end of March on trans fer. He will be stationed at Melbourne.
Mr. Rob Wright Fiji Public Relations Office Photographer, returned to Fiji on March 27 by TEAL flying-boat with his wife and family. They have been on leave in New Zealand.