Administrator

Former Senator Administrator Of Norfolk

From a Norfolk Island Correspondei Major-General R. H. Words worth has been appointed Ad ministrator of Norfolk Island ii place of Mr. R. S. Ley din, whi has been appointed Administrate, of Nauru.

General wordsworth, v will be 69 on July 21, wa; Liberal Senator for Tasmania fr 1950-59. He is Australian born, 5 served in the Australian Light He in the early part of World War but transferred to the Indian Ar in 1917.

He served in two campaigns on North-West Frontier of India in 19 20 and 1930, and spent three ye with the Ist Indian Armou Division in the Middle East in Wc War 11.

He retired from the Indian Ar in 1947, having been twice mentioi in despatches.

The Minister for Territories, I Hasluck, who announced the appoi ment, said that General Wordswo and his wife would leave for Norf Island early in June.

Norfolk, of course, is wonder what is in store.

The departure of Mr. Ley marked the end of one phase of Commonwealth Government’s effc to bring a measure of self-governm to this Territory.

When Mr. Leydin was appoin four years ago his main task was implement the Norfolk Island A which would give powers to the n Norfolk Island Council. But 1 councillors rejected their new powe and since then local politics h£ been notorious for both confusi and bitterness. Nothing has be achieved at all.

Mr. Leydin was in the pecul position of being probably the m efficient Administrator Norfolk 1 had for many years, and also one the most unpopular.

Previous Administrators have 1 been noted for exceptional abil or administrative capacity and th( is ample evidence of mis-manageme in the past. Some have been dump here as expendable material.

This background has continua been stressed by members of t Council and it is not surprising tt Mr. Leydin and Councillors—most

(Continued on p. 144)

them very vocal—found themselves at loggerheads. Especially as Mr. Ley din, a busy man and rather shy in company in contrast to some of the bluff, back-slapping officials who pre ceded him, had little contact with the people.

Norfolk Islanders require under standing and a certain amount of patience. They are friendly and warm-hearted on the whole, but them selves shy with strangers. Mr. Ley din’s reticence was misinterpreted by some as either arrogance or dis interest, which was regrettable.

There is no denying that the island’s economy is on a sounder footing now than when Mr. Leydin arrived. The Administration appears to be financi ally able to carry out a considerable number of public works. The in creased flow of tourists shows no signs of slackening and the air service to the island is to be continued on a weekly basis indefinitely.

Speaking at a farewell brodacast over the Administrations broadcast ing system, Mr. Leydin touched on the state of local politics.