Vale, "F.E.W."!

r THE death of Dr. F. E. Williams, Gov ernment Anthropologist of Papua', in a recent plane crash (reported in the July issue of the “P1M”), has brought forth many tributes from men who knew him and admired his work.

Born in South Australia 50 years ago, educated at Kyre College and Adelaide University, he was an Australian Rhodes Scholar for 1914; but before he could go to Oxford, World War I caught up with him, and he served in France and Persia, firstly with the 32nd Battalion and later with the Dunster Force. After this pre sent war commenced he was again called to the colours.

In more recent years Dr. Williams spent a year at London University under a Rockefeller Foundation Fellowship; in 1935 he won the Wellcome Medal for the best work of the year in assisting the progress of primitives. He also held the Cilento medal, awarded for assistance given to the promotion of health and well-being of dark peoples in the tropics.

The following tribute from an old Papuan resident is typical of many. — WELL known to many advanced Papuan natives, and to most Euro peans in the Territory, was South Australian Rhodes Scholar, Francis Ed gard Williams, D.Sc., MA, &c., recently killed in a plane crash in Papua. He was, for more than two decades, Government Anthropologist of Papua. He was also editor of the successful “Papuan Villager,” which publication first saw light in the mid-’twenties, to the edification and education (in English) of Papuan natives Territory-wide. “F.E.” was an Army captain abroad in the Great War, and was still a captain in this world upheaval.

Possessed of a dry humour and truly magnificent patience, highly talented and most unassuming, he gained a wide circle of sincere friends, a fitting tribute to a “white man,” and author of several important anthropological tomes. While “F.E,” had no illusions about any Papuan natives being “angels,” he was able to look beyond a haze which hung over their horizon, and to perceive that under a succession of trade winds of enlighten ment there would, in the end, be exposed a sea upon which the natives could effectively manage economic vessels of their own, control by the Government being indirect. This, too, must be our belief.

“F.E.” left a widow, who will presently join their young son in England.—R.A.V.

The Fiji Department of Labour and National Services has announced that during the past two months the number of Fijians employed on war work has been reduced from 2,700 to 2,000. The majority of the men released are from outlying districts and islands.