NEW administrator

For Western Samoa

Lieut. -colonel f. w. voelcker, DSO, MC, of Kferikeri. New Zealand, has been appointed Administrator ot Western Samoa, in succession to Mr. A. C.

Turnbull, who has been visiting New Zealand, intimated to the Govern ment that he wished to retire on super annuation in February, 1946.

MR TURNBULL has given a lifetime of devoted and sound service to th New Zealand Administration. For several years after his transfer to Samoa, he was Secretary of the Administration, and Deputy Administrator. When Sir Her bert Hart retired from the chief position in 1935, Mr. Turnbull became Acting Ad ministrator. Samoa had had 15 years of political trouble and unrest, and the new Governor found no bed of roses. But he understood and liked the Samoans; he is a kindly, humane man, with a good personality and plenty of tact; and from the time he took charge of the Govern ment, the Samoans became less and less troublesome until, to-day, the Terri tory is quiet and peaceful.

Because of typical stupidity m Govern mental high places in New .Zealand, this valuable officer was not raised from the status of Acting Administrator until 1943, when he was given the full appointment.

In fact, he has been Administrator fro? 1 1935 to 1945; and in point of actual per formance, he has been, far and away, the most successful British Administrator Samoa has known. No other Adminis trator reigned more than five years and —with the possible exception of c °] on , Tate, 1920-23 —none brought peace to th Mr ° U and y Mrs. Turnbull are held in high esteem by all three communities in Samoa European, Euronesian and Samoan and their departure, nearly two decades of residence, will be regretted by all.

New Administrator Well-known in

Fiji

Lieutenant-Colonel F. W. Voelcker, DSO MC, of Keri Keri, Bay of Islands.

NZ was born in London almost 49 years ago. He served in World War I, in which he was wounded and taken prisoner m 1915 Despite three escapes, he was held prisoner for 3i years. Later, he served in Aden and India until coming to New Z0 In a World War 11, he went to Fiji in 1940 and in December, 1942, was ap pointed to command the 3rd .Battalion, Fiii Infantry Regiment, which he took to Bougainville in March of last year.

One of his men was Corporal Sukanai valu, the first member of the Colonial Forces in the recent war to win the VC.

Colonel Voelcker, who returned to New Zealand last month, was awarded the DSO and the American Bronze Star.

The NZ Prime Minister said very fav ourable reports had been received about Colonel Voelcker’s ability and] under standing in dealing with all the prob lems of the Fijians under his command.

That experience and understanding would be of considerable value in the dis charge of his important duties in Samoa. He would proceed to Samoa in March, 1946.

Miss V. B. Dixon, Miss K. A. Smythe, and Miss J. A. Guthrie arrived in Suva in September to take up duties on the nursing staff of the War Memorial Hos

pital.