Notable Men of The Pacific

THERE is always an element of luck in choosing a man who has to exercise wide powers as an adminis trator of territories largely peopled by aboriginals. A man may measure up admirably in the usual valuations, but may fail lamentably when called on to deal sympathetically with natives.

Therefore, New Zealand has been lucky since taking over the Cook Is lands, on June 11, 1901. Each Resi dent Commissioner —Colonel W. E.

Gudgeon (1901-1909), Captain J. Eman Smith (1909-1913), Mr. H. W. North croft (1913-16), Mr. F. W. Platts (1916- 1921) and Judge H. F. Ayson (now in office) —has been not only a man of vision and enterprise, but also has been happy in his relations with the natives who are temperamental people of the Maori race. Consequently, the Cook Islands are one of the best-governed territories in the Pacific; life there is comfortable and attractive; and Raro tonga, as a place of residence, is one of the charming spots in the world.

In this pleasant, serene place, Judge Ayson is the leading figure. As the administrator, with very wide powers, and the head of the official organisa tion, he is much respected; as a private citizen and a man. a keen sportsman and a good fellow, he is thoroughly liked by both Europeans and Maoris.

Judge Avson was only 38 when he was appointed Resident Commissioner in 1922; so he is still a comparatively

young man. He was born in the Clutha district, in Southern New Zealand, and was educated in the Wairarapa, and at Victoria University College, in Welling ton. In 1905, he commenced practice in Wellington as a barrister and solicitor as partner in the legal firm of Bunny and Ayson. After several years of legal work he got his first taste of the Paci fic —he was appointed to the Cook Islands, from 1916 to 1918, as judge of the Native Land Court and High Court, and deputy-Resident Commissioner.

Then, for four years, he was judge of the Native Land Court at Rotorua, N.Z.

In these positions he obtained a deep and sympathetic knowledge of the nat ive mind and character, and when he was selected to go to Rarotonga, in 1922, as Resident Commissioner, it was generally felt that an excellent ap pointment had been made.

“He is absolutely fair and just,” writes one who knows him well. “He is of a kindly disposition and does under stand the native character. The nat ives look upon him as a father and take all their family troubles along to him. He has done much to create a kindly, friendly feeling between natives and Europeans, The present spirit of co-operation in the group is the result of many years of hard and patient work by broad-visioned men and foremost among them we must place Judge Ayson.”

The C.M.G. was conferred on Judge Ayson in 1929.

Judge H. F. Ayson, C.M.G., Resident Commissioner of the Cook Islands