Dr. J. T. Gunther

Assistant Administrator in New Guinea

THE announcement on March 4, that Dr. John Thomson Gunther, OBE, Director of Public Health in Papua and New Guinea, had been appointed Assistant Administrator of the Territory of Papua and New Guinea, caused about 20 per cent, of the residents of Port Moresby to say “What!” But the other 80 per cent, said that it probably was a very good thing.

They had always regarded him as a Medical Officer rather than as an Administrator, seemingly.

To have more than 80 per cent, of the population with you in this Territory is more than any reason able man can expect.

Therefore, we can take it that the

appointment was generally regarded with favour—and by the Public Service Association as a triumph for their campaign for “top posts for Territory men.”

On the “other side,” of course, the appointment caused fewer ripples on the pool There, all matters re lating to Port Moresby, and the centralised administration generally, are regarded as an excrescence on the face of the Territory.

Most disappointment came from those who had believed that Mr.

S. A. Lonergan—who has been act ing in the position of Assistant Administrator for the past five months—would be appointed to the position.

But Mr. Lonergan did not apply for the job last August, when Mr.

R. Wilson resigned; and, although his attitude has been that he would be available if required, it was probably expecting a bit too much from Canberra to suggest it would depart so far from official formulae as to tender a special invitation.

It may not have been “legally within the meaning of the Act,” either.

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Dr. Gunther.

t\r Gunther was born in Sydney I I in 1810, and was educated at King’s School and the Medical School at Sydney University His first job after graduation (and the usual hospital beat) was Medical Officer for Lever’s Pacific Planta ins Ltd. in the Solomons, 1935- 938; and thus he began specialis ing in tropical diseases.

Between 1938, and enlisting in the RAAF in 1940, he was chairman of he Medical Board set up by the Queensland Government to investi gate lead poisoning as it affected industry at Mt. Isa.

Most of his RAAF service was \n New Guinea —first in Milne Bay; later as malariologist; then com manding No. 1 Tropical Research Field Unit, whose chief job was research into scrub-typhus, with eadquarters at Bat Island (near Manus) which was a hot-bed of his disease (13 out of 17 RAAF radar personnel stationed on the island got typhus).

In April, 1946, Dr. Gunther was (ffered the job of Acting Director f Health, P-NG; he took up duty r July. The Acting appointment was confirmed in 1947.

Dr. Gunther was married in 1938 hut his first wife was killed in an accident in 1942. He remarried (to hiss Elvie Hodge) in 1943. He has ■ Free daughters (the youngest born i Port Moresby) and one son. He end his wife are personally popular, : both sections of the Territory. 117TTH the belated announcement ff of Dr. Gunther’s appointment, one 64-dollar-question has been answered.

But another remains: Why did Dr. Gunther seek the job?

It is believed by many Terri tcrians that Mr. Marsh (who was appointed Acting Assistant Admin istrator when Mr. Wilson resigned, but who left the Territory, re portedly ill, after only a few weeks in the Territory) had “taken one look at the mess and decided not to stick his neck out.”

It is generally agreed that Dr.

Gunther has made a really good job of reorganising the Territory’s health services. His new position will give him the opportunity of exercising his talents over a wider field.

But it is not as simple as that.

No man of commonsense and vision may leave the unpredictable Can berra set-up out of his predictions..

He assumed his new duties im mediately. His first task was to preside over a conference of Dis trict Commissioners, which com menced in Port Moresby on March 4 and was expected to last out the week.

DR. GUNTHER’S new appoint ment leaves the Territory with out a Director of Health. Dr.

R. F. R. Scragg is acting until

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other appointment is made. Dr. A. J.

May (who has frequently acted as Director of Health) is, it is under stood, on pre-retirement leave.

The departure of Sir Beaumont Phillips, Chief Justice of the Terri tory, also leaves a vacancy in the Supreme Court. t A claim for libel, brought against the Samoa Bulletin by Hon. A. M.

Gurau, MLC, was heard in Apia in February; and judgment was re served by the Court.