Director Appointed

New P-NG Education Director Appointed

A surprise announcement of the appointment of Mr. Geoffrey Thomas Roscoe, M.A. Dip.Ed, as Director of Education for Papua- New Guinea, in succession to Mr. W. C. Groves, was made in Canberra on September 2. Mr.

Roscoe has been Assistant Director in P-NG since 1947.

The surprise element was the appointment of a man from within the P-NG Public Service, as it had been generally assumed that Min ister Hasluck had turned down all local applications and that the new director would come from “out side”. The Minister was understood to be handling every aspect of this appointment himself, as he has strong views on native education.

Another surprise in the an nouncement is that it was made with such despatch. Mr. Groves re tired only in mid-August. Such speed is unusual in NG Adminis tration appointments.

When Dr. J. Gunther was appointed Assistant Administrator in March, 1957, and vacated the directorship of Health, Dr. R. F. R.

Scragg was appointed Acting Director. He is still Acting.

Mr. Roscoe is a graduate of Queensland University, and before going to P-NG as Assistant Director of Education in 1947, was head master at Charters Towers High School. He is 58, which, if he is retired at 60, as was Mr. Groves, gives him less than two years to direct his department.

Nevertheless, Mr. Roscoe’s appoint ment is most welcome.

He is a competent and popular administrator, and P-NG people and PIM commend it as another win in the long struggle to have experienced P-NG Administration officers given top posts in the P-NG service.

Mr. G. T. Roscoe.