Tackle P-Ng

New Chief Will

Police Problems

From a Port Moresby Correspondent The man with the big job of boosting the morale of the Royal Papua-New Guinea Constabu lary is Sepik District Commis sioner, Robert Rothsay Cole. His appointment as new P-NG Police Commissioner was announced on December 9.

HE replaces Mr. Chris Normoyle, who retired on September 30 after 40 years in the police force, 32 of them in the Territory, and 10 as Commissioner. His retirement was a little earlier than expected, because of pressure put on him by some senior Administration officials who blamed him for police strikes and general discontent during the year.

The police force certainly hasn’t been a happy one, but there have been many reasons for this—includ ing delays in the issue of a new uniform, poor living conditions, low pay, and mismanagement by some young European police officers from Australia who have been unable to understand or gain the respect of the men in the ranks.

Well-Fitted Following Mr. Normoyle’s retire ment there was much activity in seek ing a replacement. Those considered likely to have a chance were retired Army officers, men with academic qualifications, District Officers and District Commissioners.

As PIM commented in reporting this in October (p. 17), anybody “but an ordinary professional cop is ap parently not wanted”.

The choice is now made, and since a professional policeman was not wanted, it would be difficult to find among the unprofessionals a man better fitted for the task of Com missioner than Bob Cole.

Mr. Cole is a popular, efficient DC with wide experience of Territory conditions and of New Guineans. He is no limelighter, but a hard worker.

Born at Dubbo, NSW, now aged 51, he has been with Native Affairs since 1938 and has been District Commissioner in the Sepik since 1957.

He served overseas with the AIF in World War 11, being commissioned in 1941 in the Middle East. He

gained the immediate award of a Military Cross for daring and able leadership while leading a patrol in the Hollandia area of West New Guinea before the Allied landing there. He was a captain with ANGAU until 1945 when he re sumed duty with the Administration.

In announcing the appointment, the Minister for Territories, Mr.

Barnes, said he was confident that Mr. Cole would bring to his new job the knowledge, experience and leader

ship which “would be important factors in maintaining the morale of the force in its essential role of the future development of the Territory”.

The new Commissioner has to assist him the first New Guinean commissioned officers and if he makes use of these men. allow ing them real responsibility, then his new broom will probably sweep clean in quick time. Many Terri torians will certainly be watching with great interest.