The Real Petronius and Papua New Guinea Railroads

By PAUL OATES in Queensland, Australia

 

(The following information is taken from the Wikipedia site.)

“In recent times, a popular quote on reorganization is often (but spuriously) attributed to a Gaius Petronius. In one version, it reads:

We trained hard ... but it seemed that every time we were beginning to form up into teams we would be reorganized. I was to learn later in life that we tend to meet any new situation by reorganizing; and a wonderful method it can be for creating the illusion of progress while producing confusion, inefficiency, and demoralization.

A shortened version occasionally seen (as on http://huizen.nhkanaal.nl/~rickdos/kwot.htm, which to do the web-page author justice, lists it as an ``annoying quote'', and on Martin F. Falatic's http://enteract.com/~marty/quotes-short.html, which does not) is:

Reorganization is a splendid method of producing the illusion of progress whilst creating confusion, inefficiency and demoralization (Petronius Arbiter, 60 A.D.)

But apparently, the real Petronius Arbiter never wrote these words. They have reputedly never been found in his writings.

So who is the REAL Petronius?

The following appears on page 162 of Robert Townsend's Up the Organization (New York: Knopf, 1970): I was to learn later in life that we tend to meet any new situation by reorganizing; and a wonderful method it can be for creating the illusion of progress while producing confusion, inefficiency, and demoralization. Townsend cites ``Petronius Arbiter (circa A.D. 60).'' Another quote from Townsend (page 7): ``And God created the Organization and gave it dominion over man.’’... Genesis 1, 30A, Subparagraph VIII: which tells us how reliable Townsend is.

Is Townsend the sought-for perpetrator? Many think so, but it seems more likely he is simply an early continuator into print of a long-standing bulletin-board joke. Many correspondents, most notably Richard Dengrove, have told me about a note by J. P. Sullivan in the May 1981 Petronian Society Newsletter (12(1), p.1) addressing this important question. Quoting (without permission):

... let me give my tentative account, which I hope other readers can correct, of its provenance. Some disgruntled soldier of a literary bent, whether commissioned or noncommissioned I do not know, pinned this ``quotation'' to a bulletin board in one of the camps of the armies occupying Germany sometime after 1945 (the style suggests a British occupying force). Since the sentiment is impeccable, whether applied to military, governmental, or academic administration, it has enjoyed a cachet borrowed from Petronius ever since.

(To which I might add, sometimes I think it applies to administration in the business world, too.)”

So why do these words seem to resonate so loudly in today’s society to the extent that they are quoted on walls and on notice boards? Could it be because we can clearly see the axiomatic truth behind them?

In the early 1980’s, when the current craze of workstations started to over take from the traditional office accommodation for government employees, it seemed like almost every second workstation had a copy of the Petronius quote pinned to the wall. It was for some reason noticeably absent from senior officers and notice boards outside Ministerial offices.

Could it be that ordinary workers were trying to express their feelings by using a ‘surrogate’ quotation?

A common point of exasperation with many government employees was the continual changing of departments and responsibilities. While the name of the department might change change, the function it performed usually didn’t. The real beneficiaries always seemed to be the printers who were required to print new stationary for the new department and the paper industry who had to keep the supply of paper up with the latest government changes. In the early 1970’s, a reported, worldwide paper shortage resulted in at least six separate memos from each level of government being sent to every TPNG outstation warning of the paper shortage and requesting that only essential correspondence be sent in on paper.

A recent state premier always had a ready answer for the question about what was the government doing about something? “I have a plan!” he would say. Whether that particular plan actually worked or not was immaterial. It was a very good foil to any further questions and allowed him to talk about what he wanted.

Most government departments always seem to change after any election. This seems to fit in quite well to the claimed Petronius system of ‘change creating an illusion of progress’. Governments and Ministers must be seen to be doing something to justify their own existence even though the real reason they are put in power is to achieve results. It’s only after being elected that first time politicians actually find that achieving results is very difficult whereas creating a climate of ‘smoke and mirrors’ is actually quite easy.

The problem in these days of hyper quick information dissemination is that the process of change has become entrenched as never ending and an ever more frequent alternative to actually doing anything. Government employees that are trying to cope with the last upheaval then seem to be drowned in the next ‘tsunami’ of yet another change or a new idea to provide a diversion from reality.

In a recent article (*)  below, the PNG Parliament is to consider the possibility of introducing railroads as a remedy for the country’s ailing transport system.  Now on the surface, this is a good proposal to make. Afterall, many countries use rail as a cheap and practical transportation system and if run commercially, it can be economically viable.

Let’s therefore look at the potential viability of PNG having a railroad system. Firstly, a railway logically requires roiling stock. This would have to be bought from somewhere along with the necessary expertise and training to operate this new equipment. Initially, expenditure would be ‘front ended’ and huge. Then a network of rail links would have to be constructed to enable the rolling stock to move people and cargo around. Railway engines to pull the new rolling stock would have to be bought and a decision made as to what method of locomotion the engine would use.

Now, should it be coal fired, diesel driven or electric? Given the lack of any natural coal deposits and that coal is currently politically ‘on the nose’; clearly this would not be a good choice. Then the availability of an uninterrupted supply of electricity is essential to ensure a train doesn’t get stalled on a line between stations. Moresby residents may therefore have a view about this factor, given the numerous power interruptions and spikes that have happened in the past. The logical choice would then be diesel power to run the new ‘locos’. This is an obvious choice since there is already the knowledge and expertise to run diesel engines available and the product is already imported to run the current transport methods using road and sea.

There are two island states nearby where railways have been in operation and these could be used for comparison with PNG. Firstly, Tasmania has a rail link between the North and South of the country but this is only used for freight. The other island state, New Zealand, also seems to use rail for freight purposes as well. Apparently, passengers prefer road and air travel.  Whoops! What a ‘downer’!

While New Zealand is in the Pacific Ring of Fire, the effects of this factor are mostly restricted to the North Island. Earthquakes in PNG often disrupt current road transport arrangements with landslides and wash ways. What would this do to a fixed and solid train line made up of iron tracks that must be at a constant distance apart from each other and on a firm foundation? How would any repairs be made to twisted and broken tracks unless a service road was nearby?

But if there logically had to be a service road nearby any potential railway track, and this service road could be easily repaired as are PNG roads now, why have a railroad at all?

Now if the current PNG transport system is not working or needs proper funding to repair it, then clearly this is beyond the scope of current government expertise. Therefore, why not try something else? Afterall, by the time that any new alternative is found to require exactly the same skills and dedication to make it work as do the current alternatives, those who are currently championing the idea will have their government superannuation schemes to enjoy and be long gone.

So who is the real Petronius? Why it’s all of us who can see what’s happening but apparently can’t do anything about it.

________________________________________________________________________

 

 

* Post Courier News

     Friday 17th July, 2009

 

 

Railway proposal before Parliament

 

By Gorethy Kenneth

 

PARLIAMENT was given notice yesterday for the proposed introduction of

railways as an alternative means of transport for Papua New Guinea.

The notice of motion came from National Capital District Governor Powes

Parkop who said this new mode of transport would help with the current

growing number of people in the country.

Yesterday his motion was read by the Clerk of Parliament for the Bill to be

enacted.

It read: "Mr Speaker, I give notice- that I shall move that this Parliament

recognises railways as an alternative mode of transport in Papua New Guinea

and accordingly call upon the National Government to:

. ENDORSE a feasibility study for two pilot projects for a railway network

to connect Kerema in Gulf Province with Port Moresby and Alotau in Milne Bay

and from Lae in Morobe Province to Kassam Pass and Madang

. THE Engineering Department of the Papua New Guinea University of

Technology be engaged to do a feasibility study on these two projects in

view of the study that they have already undertaken previously into this

mode of transport.

. Consider the project as a priority and provide adequate funding or the

feasibility study to commence immediately

. Seek funding from international donors for technical assistance for the

project and engage into dialogue with possible investors and donors to

secure funding for the two pilot rail projects in the country and

. Encourage affected Provincial Governments to provide support to the two

projects particularly Gulf, Milne Bay, Morobe, Madang and the National

Capital District Commission to ensure that this pilot project is implemented

as soon as possible.

Back on the road again!

I’ll be on the road for the next couple of days with the good guys from my ex employer, the Coffee Industry Corporation, in Goroka.

I’ll be flying up there tomorrow, driving up to Simbu where I overnight, on to Minj in the great Wahgi Valley of the Western Highlands on Thursday, and drive back to Aiyura in the Eastern Highlands on Friday.

I spend Saturday at Aiyura, travel back to Goroka on Sunday morning, and catch a flight back to Port Moresby.

I’ll be working on a newspaper supplement for the District-By-District Coffee Rehabilitation Programme run by the CIC.

I’m looking forward to the trip and should have a lot of yarns and pictures to share.

I’ll keep you posted if I find any internet cafes alongside the Highlands Highway.

 

My first 100 days in power

My first 100 days in power...I have not touched a drop of alcohol or a cigarette in 100 days and have never felt better in my life.

New university campus to open in East Sepik

Entrance to the once-thriving Sepik Agricultural College

Bush takes over a property of the Sepik Agricultural College

Prof Philip Siaguru (left) looks with concern at the skeleton of a classroom at Sepik Agricultural College

The bush-covered remains of the Sepik Agricultural College

Bush and a former staff house at the Sepik Agricultural College

The former Sepik Agriculture College will become a campus of the Vudal-based PNG University of Natural Resources and Environment in East New Britain province, with massive infrastructure development to start next year for first student enrolment in 2012.
It will be known as the Sepik Central Campus.
This is with the full blessing of Prime Minister and East Sepik MP Sir Michael Somare and the government.
Vice chancellor Prof Philip Siaguru revealed this after a fact-finding trip to the East Sepik province earlier this month.”
Minister for Commerce and Industry and Maprik MP Gabriel Kapris had initially wanted the now-closed Sepik Agriculture College to become a college of the UNRE, however, the fact-finding trip found out that it had the potential to be a campus on its own.
The UNRE, however, strongly emphasises that special financial dispensation must be provided by government or a donour agency to build infrastructure in 2010 and 2011, with the set target for first student enrolment in 2012.
The UNRE has included in its 2010 budget a round figure of K20 million to continue from the jump-start budget allocation of K5m pledged by the government for the remainder of 2009.
Infrastructure development planned for Phase One commencing next year consists of a female dormitory, two male dormitories, clinic, Christian centre, four academic staff houses, four mix staff houses, four support staff houses, administration block, estate and services, one classroom, one laboratory and one lecture hall.
Phase Two in 2011 consists of a female dormitory, two male dormitories, four academic staff houses, four mix staff houses, four support staff houses, one classroom, one laboratory, one lecture hall and a canteen.
By Phase Three in 2012, when student recruitment begins, construction will progress on a needs basis and normal application will be made through the Public Investment Plan (PIP) to progressively continue the development of the Sepik Central Campus.
“The purpose of this trip was fact finding,” Prof Siaguru said.
“The Minister for Commerce and Industry wanted Sepik Agriculture College to become a college of the university.
“But during the visit, we saw that it had huge potential, so it will not be a college but a university campus.
“We found that we can carry can carry out fisheries training at Pagwi, forestry training at Yambi and Kunjukini, livestock at Urimoi and oil palm at Turubu.
“Fisheries training facilities at Pagwi, forestry training facilities at Yambi and Kunjikini, and livestock at Urimoi.
“This means that all training programmes at the main Vudal campus will also run at the Sepik central Campus.
“Potential for training is very good.
“We have the full support of the Prime Minister.
“National Agriculture Development Programme is right behind it.
“NADP will now try to turn this plan into an NEC submission for K5 million to jumpstart the programme.”
Until its closure in 1992, the Sepik college at Bainyik, Maprik, was a lively agricultural training centre which produced quality extension officers for PNG and overseas countries such as the Solomon Islands.
It is now, however, a shocking skeleton of its former self with rundown and vandalised property covered by thick grass.
Mr Kapris at the beginning of this year wrote to Prof Siaguru to get the ball rolling, after similar letters to Pacific Adventist University, University of Techonology, Divine Word University and University of PNG failed to get any response.
He also allocated K100, 000 from his district improvement programme – with another K400, 000 to come – to kick start the project.
The re-opening of the Sepik college comes at a time when there is major agricultural development in East Sepik province through the K2.5 billion Sepik biofuel project by Cosmos Oil of Japan, and K900m agri-business development by Australian-based Chinese company SPZ Enterprises.

Dad to hang

Adopted son’s murderer sentenced to death

 

By JAMES APA GUMUNO in The National, Papua New Guinea’s No. 1 daily newspaper

 

THE National Court has sentenced a man to death by hanging for killing his adopted son using a shotgun in Wabag five years ago.

Acting judge Justice Nemo Yalo handed down the ultimate penalty in Mt Hagen last

Friday.

Ambrose Lati, a father of six from Keas village outside Wabag, was found guilty of wilful murder, under section 299 of Criminal Code Act, on March 26, 2009.

The court found that Lati killed his adopted son, Jumbo Lati, using a pump action shotgun on March 25, 2004, in Wabag town in order to take over his (deceased’s) house and land which Jumbo had inherited from his grandmother.

Jumbo was three months old when Lati and his wife Lucy adopted him. He was the son of Lina, the elder sister of Mrs Lati. They raised him together with their own five children.

Jumbo’s house and property, which he inherited, are located directly across Beat Street where his adopted father owns land and property, about 200m from the Wabag police station.

The court heard that on March 25, 2004, at about 4am, Jumbo and other neighbours were chasing some thieves who had attempted to steal a vehicle from a family in the neighbourhood.

Armed with a torch, Jumbo searched for the thieves near the Kop Creek which flows behind his house. He was worried the thieves might be hiding in his backyard.

He did not know that his adopted father was waiting for him, armed with a pump action shotgun. When Jumbo was about 15m away, Lati fired twice, but missed. The third shot, fired at point black range, killed Jumbo instantly.

Justice Yalo said this was a vicious and brutal killing where an adopted father had shown blatant disregard for the sanctity of human life.

He said he was mindful of the ever increasing community concerns about the prevalence of this particular nature of crime and their call to curb it.

He said such crime made society think that life had become so cheap, particularly in Enga province where there were more homicide offences as indicated by the records in the National Court’s registry.

He said the court was not swayed in any way in reaching the decision (on death penalty) by the recent media reports of the alleged killing of four children by their mother and the emotive public outburst that followed.

Justice Yalo said this case was decided on its merit.

He said that in this case, Lati’s pitiless and selfish economic interests had pushed him to the extent where he had shown no respect for the dignity and sanctity of the life of his adopted son.

He said the prisoner remained unremorseful for his crime, adding that crimes relating to economic interest occurring in other parts of the world like daring daylight bank robberies or hijacking of aircraft or kidnapping people for ransom had now landed in our country.

Justice Yalo said that Lati made a conscious decision to unlawfully take away the life of another fellow human being, which cannot be revived.

He said the crime not only breached section 299 of the Criminal Code, it was also a serious and flagrant breach of section 35 of the Constitution, where the right to life is provided for and protected.

“I am satisfied that the degree of moral and criminal culpability and the degree of cruelty and senselessness and the complete absence of pity exhibited by the prisoner is so grave and reprehensible that he is undeserving of a chance to live his own life.

“It is only just and fair that the prisoner should pay for the crime with his own life,” Justice Yalo said in his 44-page judgment.

He ordered that Lati be held in custody at Baisu jail and his sentence be carried out at a time and place to be appointed by the head of State, acting on advice, and that he be hanged by the neck until he is dead.

Justice Yalo also told the prisoner he had the right to appeal against the sentence, and had 40 days to do so.

 

I've nothing to hide, says Namah

From The National, Papua New Guinea’s No. 1 daily newspaper

 

FOREST Minister Belden Namah, a businessman before becoming an MP, has nothing to hide about his business activities.

Mr Namah said this in his personal explanation to Parliament last Friday.

“I have declared all my business interests to the Ombudsman Commission and I hide no secrets,” he said.

He strongly denied owning properties in Samoa and threatened to sue The National and Samoa Observer newspapers for defamation.

Launching a strong attack on the two newspapers, Mr Namah also took on Deputy Opposition leader Bart Philemon, saying he would “fix” Mr Philemon outside.

He was then asked to withdraw the remarks after Mr Philemon interjected to the chair about the nature of the threat.

He said he had instructed his lawyers to start legal proceedings against the two papers.

He said the Post-Courier did not run the story because a lawsuit was pending against that newspaper for allegedly writing a fabricated story about an alleged punch-up between himself and Treasurer Patrick Pruaitch.

Mr Namah denied owning properties in Samoa but admitted he was merely facilitating an investment arrangement between one of his overseas business partners and his local Samoan partner.

“I stand tall and proud and I hide no secrets,” he said.

“Before I became an MP, I was already into the multi-billion-dollar business of logging,” he said.

Mr Namah said he had used his company money to build roads and two bridges in his electorate before becoming an MP.

He said he was giving between K50, 000 and K100, 000 to charities as a private citizen.

“I have not squandered public funds,” he said.

He said he had fought for landowners, who were now being paid much higher royalties for their logs.

Mr Namah said he had made all declarations to the Ombudsman Commission on his business interests.

He also asked why a Papua New Guinean could not venture into businesses and buy houses in Australia.

He said there was talk recently against Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare buying houses in Australia.

He said Sir Michael had served 40 years and was the longest serving Member of Parliament, and he again asked what was wrong with the Prime Minister buying property in Australia.

“Those who hide themselves are hiding under ghost names,” he said.

“Our journalists really need to go back to school.

“They have to check with the land registry in Samoa.

“Is Namah’s name there?

“You are defaming a young politician.

“This is a pure attempt to destroy a young leader.

“Bring it on. I don’t fear.

“I have declared all my business interests to the Ombudsman Commission.”

Mr Namah was interrupted by Mr Philemon several times.

At one stage, he called a point of order, pointing to the Deputy Opposition leader and referring to him as “this son of a bishop or what”, but was asked to withdraw his un-parliamentary language.

“Some of our senior politicians are really hurt but, once again, I deny owning properties in Samoa,” Mr Namah said.

 

My Soul Mate

Received this lovely poem from my good friend Michelle today and she says it’s okay to share with all you wonderful people from around the world

 

By MICHELLE EVOA

 

Twinkle in my eye,

Heart skips a beat,

I Smile from within

My Laughter echoes

The joy I have since we crossed paths.

 

I see you in my sleep

Even when I am very awake.

The very thought of you

Makes me smile all over.

 

I anxiously await you,

For our quality time however brief

Attaches an ounce, I so very much

am yearning for.

 

Our conversations,

A window to my soul

And yet a very down trodden glimpse

Of my inner being.

 

I have in you;

My shoulder to cry on

Warmth for shelter,

A reason to smile.

You don’t need to say or do more

You are my soul mate.