NEW GUINEA ADMINISTRATION.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXI, Issue 8734, 7 February 1907, Page 2

NEW GUINEA ADMINISTRATION.

Severe Criticism. Press Association.—Copyright. Melbourne, February G. The report of the lloyal Commission on Papuan affairs has been presented. It is understood that it severely condemns the administration in certain directions. It states that the adminstrator divided his officers into two classes—those who were in his favour, and those who were not. It recommends that the treasurer, M, I). Ballantyne, and. Resident Magistrate of the Southeastern Division, be retired ; also the Cove mine ut secretary* the latter after twelve months; Melbodiinb, February 7. The report of the Papuan Commission says that while it appears Captain Barton, Acting-Adminis-trator, cannot be charged with direct action in discouraging agricultural or mining development, he failed to do all a sympathetic Administrator, untrammelled by personal prejudice for or against certain members of the public service, might have accomplished- The division of his staff into two classes, one for and the other always against his policy, has been the keynote of his comparative failure as an Administrator. His personal prejudice towards those counted friends or enemies was in the main unwarranted by the action of either, and has so clouded the broader question of outside interests that the Commissioners wonder he accomplished as much as he has in the direction of general development. The Commissioners arc more than satisfied with Captain Barton’s conclusions as to the disloyalty of some of his officers which apart altogether