Composition of Official Party

War Graves Ceremonies

In Papua-N-Guinea

The PIM criticism (Nov., p. 18) of \e composition of the official Aus alian party which went to Papua ew Guinea in October to witness \e unveiling of War Memorials by \e Governor-General of Australia ibout 50 officials and their women- Ik, and 23 next-of-kin of the iried servicemen) has brought to i the following letter from the on. W. S. Kent Hughes, Minister •r the Interior: TOUR statements re the official [ guests at the unveiling cere monies at the War Cemeteries e apparently based on a mis iderstanding of the facts.

The original arrangement was to larter one plane, a DC4, which as mistaken by someone for a C 3, which caused the original isunderstanding. There were 18 itside the Governor-General and s staff, not “40 or more,” as stated your November issue, and 23 latives.

Of these, there were two repre nting the Air Force Association id Ex-Navalmen’s League the SL representative being the •esident of the Territories RSL. ivo were the High Commissioners •r India and Pakistan, with no aff but representing their respec ve countries.

The rest of the official party were imposed of seven Service repre ntatives (one of them being eneral Morris, whose return to e area receives an honourable ention in another part of your sue) six Parliamentarians (all of bom were returned servicemen) id Brigadier Brown (the jcretary-General of the Imperial r ar Graves Commission Anzac gency).

There were three Ministers—the iinister for the Territories (Mr. asluck, whom you rightly report 5 taking an important part in the :oceedings) the Minister for the iterior (who is the head of the nperial War Graves Commission— nzac Agency), and the Minister »r Defence. The only “attendant omenfolk” were their wives. The [inisters and their wives travelled Y the ordinary Qantas Services, s they are entitled to do at any me.

Owing to the excellent organisa on and kind hospitality of the dministrator, his staff and private tizens, the whole of the official arty were present at all three iremonies.

Your comment about the delay lat occurred in the unveiling jremonies is, I sumbit, hardly fair ) Brigadier Brown and my prc ecessor. The Anzac Agency of ae Imperial War Graves Com

mission has had a tremendous task covering the whole Pacific area, and. has, I feel, done a difficult job very well indeed. The lateness in the issuing of the invitations was due to a desire that the Governor-General should unveil the Crosses of Sacrifice, and the ceremonies were arranged so that he could be present.

I am etc.,

W. S. Kent Hughes.

Canberra.