THE FEDERAL CAPITAL

Press, Volume LIII, Issue 15861, 28 March 1917, Page 3

THE FEDERAL CAPITAL

MUDDLING AT CANBERRA. (FROJI 0« OWN CORKESFON'DENT.) SYDNEY, March 22. When the Commonwealth Government decided to establish the Federal capital at Canberra, it invited tlio architects of tho world to submit designs. After an exhaustive analysis, tho competition was won by a young expert from the United States, a Mr Griffin. Mr Griffin was brought to Australia to supervise, the work. But things went badly at Canberra. Enormous stuns ot money were eaten up. and tho only result that seemed commensurate with tho size of the amounts spent was the muddling. Tho thing bocamc a public scandal at last, then; was tho usual storm in Parliament, an<l then Mr Griffin spoko'out. 110 declared that ho had been persistently obstructed and opposed at every turn by Federal Ministers and officers. The inevitablo Royal Commission lir.s been investigating for many weary months. The first section of its report.' on the issues relating to Mr Grifiin, has been published. It still has to report on a large number of other matters connected with waste and muddling at Canberra. So far as Mr Griffin is concerned, the Commission's finding is startling. It has decided that necessary information and assistance were withheld from him, and his powers were usurped by eertaiu officers. Mr Grillin and his office were, ignored, his rights and duties under his contract were denied, and false charges of default were made against him. The Commission finds that tho H(jn. W. C. Archibald, and others of the Departmental Board dealing with Canberra affairs, endeavoured to set aside Mr Griffin's design, and to substitute the Board's own plan. Finally, the Commission says that there was in tho Department a combination, including Mr Archibald and certain officers, hostile to Mr Grifiin and his design for the capital city. Officers whose actions arc reviewed by tho Commission include Colonel Miller, Administrator of the Federal Territory, who "objected to anyone intervening between himself and tho Minister," Colonel Owen, who. as DirectorGeneral of Works, was jealous of nuy encroachment upon the domain of his authority. Mr Murdoch. architect, •'who seems to have given some evil counsel to Colonel Owen as to the conflict 1 that might arise between the Colonel and Mr Griffin" ; Mr Scrivener Director of Lands and Survey, who objected to his surveyors Inking orders from Mr' Griffin; Mr Bingle. the actingsecretary of the Department., who was charged with delaying and withholding information. The foregoing gives some idea of the difficulties. r(uite apart from the pronounced hostilitv of the Minister, which Mr Griffin had to face.