Ex-Territorian as NT
p. 26 · Read in the full issue
With Ministerial
Apologies.
Ex-Territorian as NT Administrator
PAPUA-New Guinea’s top-ra: ing public servants, who h became used to administri plums going to ex-politicu superannuated Generals and ot outsiders, were cheered on Jun whqn it was announced that!
J. C. Archer will succeed F. J.
Wise as Administrator of t Northern Territory.
Mr, Clarrie Archer, 56, is an] Territorial having administered
prppriated properties in thel
Mandated Territory before the I set up the war-time Producl Control Board on a civilian tj after it, and more recently has b First Assistant Secretary to thel partment,.of Territories, CanbeE For six months last year hel acting Administrator of the I while Wise was on long leave. The Northern Territory has Legislative Council which 1 turned out from the same mould that of P-NG and local reside seem even less pleased with it tl their island , neighbours are v theirs. Mr. E. A. James, of P-s Legco, has gone on record call his Council a “glorified debal society.” But last year—while!
Archer was in the chair—a gen man by the name of Ti Brennan, Rum Jungle Member! the NT Council, said theirs wa “democratic swindle.”
It seems, therefore, that I Archer is not going to have thi all his own way: however, m; friends across the Coral Sea will watching his career with intei and will wish him luck. He receii the OBE in the Birthday Honou
Not A Precedent
With the announcement fi Canberra came this Ministe Admonition: The Government wished it td clearly understood that the select was made because of the per si capacity and the specialised expi ence of Mr. Archer. The post Administrator of the North Territory was not an appointrh in the Public Service and wasl open to public servants in I normal line of promotion.
It is to be regretted that j Minister thus felt called uponn apologise because Canberra 1 appointed to this job a man whji experienced in such work.
Why are such jobs “not opeq public servants in the normal ] of promotion”? What is wr: with the British Colonial Of system, under which the most J six able Colonial Governorships I open to the outstanding men of..
Service.