Strange Delay In Memorial
p. 50 · Read in the full issue
To Sir H. Murray
The failure to erect in Port Moresby a memorial to the late Sir Hubert Murray—for which there are both ample funds and adequate plans—is a measure of the kind of “ Tropicitis” that cripples initiative' and enterprise in such places.
SIR HUBERT Papua’s most; famous administrator —died inj 1940 (18 years ago), on the job..
After the war, his old friends andj admirers formed two compiittees; (one in Sydney and one in Moresby) and they subscribed £3,133/17/1 — which, with a promised Government; subsidy, made between £5,000 andJ £6,000 available.
The Sydney committee favoured] a plain stone monument, in the; centre of Port Moresby, plus some; annual scholarship for natives.
The Moresby committee con- ■ sidered various plans, but finally ini 1953 settled for “a memorial to be; established in a large area at c Konedobu, which is in process ofl being made into playing fields and] gardens, the whole to be called ‘The; Sir Hubert Murray Memorial I Gardens’. ” ~M r - T. Bensted, chairman of 1 the Sydney Committee, visiting i Port Moresby last month, was < assured by the Administrator that d the memorial would be established I before the end of 1958. He there- upon had a look at “the large area j m .Konedobu”, the proposed site; ; a^ d ., he clearly does not think much i of it.
“I would estimate a period of one to two years before the whole area i could be in a fit state for dedica- * and the Memorial suitably \ established,” he writes.
In any event, why has the matter i been neglected for so many years? S And why has Konedobu been i selected? . Lieut.-Governor’s Aus- trahan friends say they consider i a most suitable site would be s P5 e centre of the headquarters g town of the Territory which his g administration made famous.