Provincial Officer's
p. 24 · Read in the full issue
Unhappy Lapse
ONE year’s imprisonment was the sen tence imposed by the Chief Justice of Fiji, in March, upon A. F. J.
White, late Provincial Commissioner at Ra, when a jury found him guilty of the theft of £155, public funds which had been placed in his care.
The jury recommended mercy “on ac count of the stupid nature of the offence”.
Apparently, it was hard to believe tnat White had intended to steal—yet un doubtedly he had misappropriated the money. He was in England, on leave, when the muddle was found, and re turned immediately to Fiji to meet the charge.
White is a young man, only 32, and he had risen rapidly. This incident puts an end to what had promised to be a valu able Colonial Service career. He was edu cated at Trinity College, Dublin, and ser ved in the Solomon Islands from 1930 to 1934.
When asked by the Judge if he had anything to say why sentence should not be passed upon him. White replied: “No I’ve been well and truly tried. I am not guilty of these offences. That is all I can say. The prosecution was done very very fairly.”