NORTHERN TERRITORY

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XL, Issue 9203, 30 April 1920, Page 4

NORTHERN TERRITORY

COMMISSIONER'S REPORT

(Per Press Association Copyright.) (Received April 30, 1 p.m.) MELBOURNE, April 30.

Mr Justice Ewing's report on the Northern Territory severely criticised the Administration in Melbourne. Ho finds that too little attention was given to many well-founded complaints on the part of the residents, and too many representations were made through official channels. With regard to the deportations of officials, he considers that there was a good deal of provocation, which goes far to extenuate, if not actually justify, the unusual form of protest adopted. He states that one of the' deported officials was not responsible for the outbreak, and the other two were largely victims of circumstances.

Severe strictures, however, are passed on certain incidents of Dr. Gilruth's administration. He comments on the Romula case of the locking up of native witnesses in Fanny Bay gaol with murderers and lunatics, and on the strange mediaeval system under which persons were imprisoned for debt, and on the appointment of officials to positions and duties of which they were utterly ignorant.

He considers that the lack of system and generally happy-go-lucky methods were far more to blame than any evil or malicious intentions en the part of individuals