GOVERNOR OF FIJI

Hokitika Guardian, 21 November 1929, Page 7

GOVERNOR OF FIJI

SI R Ml'll CM ISON FLETCHER AT

AUCKLAND

AUCKLAND-, November 18. F.n ionte to Fiji, where lie will succeed Sir Ivy re Hutson its Colon ml Govein.ir, Sir Murchison Fletcher is a passengei to Suva by the Aorangi, wliich a ll i\ed at A Uckiand from Sydney today. He is accompanied by Lady J. l letc’ber and Sir Graham Moon.

Sir .Lurch.son was' educated at Cbeltenham and Oxford and since leaving the l Diversity lias spent all his life mi the Colonial Service. For 25 years lie was stationed at Hong-Kong, and lor the last three years lie was Colonial Secretary at Ceylon. It was while lie was on leave in England that he was appointed Governor of Fiji. Sir Murchison is eager to commence his new duties. “I have heard much of Fiji, and everyone who has been there has told me that 1 shall like it,”' he said. “Phis is my first trip south of the Equator, and I must say I am impressed with Auckland.”

Questioned as to the likelihood of the granting of Dominion status to the Ciown Colonies, Sir Murchison said this was an end which was always kept steadily in v.ew. However, conditions varied in the different Crown Colonies and it could not be expected that Native races should become prepared and fitted for self-government almost overnight, Great Britain had a large measure of responsibility for the Native peoples of the Empire and the importance of this responsibility was fully realised.

“I think there is n.’t enormous market in the East for your primary products,” Sir Murchison continued, ‘‘We used to hear very little of them in Ceylon, hut then we did not have a direct steamer. Of course, there is very keen competition on the Eastern markejt and your producers would have to lie prepared to adapt their export trade to local conditions. Such matters as packing and complete refrigeration would have to receive attention.”

Sir Murchison is a keen golfer and one of the first questions he asked on board the Aorangi was whether it would lie possible for him to play a round during his short stay ashore. He spent the morning at the Auckland Golf Club's links at Middlemore, and made a tour of the city iii the afternoon.