The Man They All Know

Dr. JOHN GUNTHER, Assistant Administrat of Papua-New Guinea since March, 19£ is the kind of man everyone has opinion about —and a very definite opinio They all insist that their view is rigli but most of the views are so widely diverge that somebody must be wrong somewheii Take the following points of view as example T here is no doubt at all—and the travel!! can check it without the slightest troubles that Dr. John Gunther's appointment was It best thing that ever happened to P-NG, t Gunther is as straight as they come.

There is also no doubt that Dr. GuntH will eventually mean ruin to the Territon because you never know where you are wi\ him.

The trouble with him, as anyone will tt you, is that he gives too much support the Administration viewpoint and is again private enterprise. He also bends so 1 backwards to help private enterprise, that t public service is neglected.

Now which, if either, is Dr. John Gunthei Perhaps posterity will tell. But whether does or not, posterity will certainly not ignci him.

Dr. Gunther was born in Sydney in 19'< and was educated at The King's School, s Sydney University, where he got his degu in medicine. After the usual hospital row he went to the Solomons as medical offin' for Lever's plantations. In 1938 he was bai in Australia as chairman of a Medical Boi( set up by the Queensland Government to vestigate lead poisoning as it affected induse at Mt. Isa.

In 1940 he enlisted in the RAAF, and sp.c most of his service in New Guinea, partii larly at Milne Bay and at Bat Island (mr Manus) as CO of No. 1 Tropical Research Fii Unit, which was investigating scrub typh among others things.

He was made Acting Director of Public Heas in P-NG in 1946, and the job was confirm in 1947. He was Health Director until appointment as Assistant Administrator, < without any doubt did a remarkable job building up the Territory's-vital health servioi using initiative and imagination on top hard work.

Dr. Gunther was married in 1938 but first wife was kifed in an accident in 19?

He remarried in 1943 and has three daughtr and one son, John (who is now at The Kin School, like the three successive generatii before him).

—Sketch by Brett H