Fiji

"Luke" Receives Fiji Police Commission

MR. I. E. LUCCHINELLI Superinten dent of Police in Fiji since early 1938, has been appointed Commis sioner of Police in Fiji in succession to Colonel J. E. Workman, who has been transferred to Tanganyika.

This is an interesting appointment as this Commissionership almost always has gone to one of the trained officials of the British Colonial Servicej who are kept moving around the Empire; whereas

Mr. Lucchinelli joined the Fiji Adminis tration in 1915 as a junior Customs clerk, and has served all his life in the Colony.

His is a highly meritorious career.

After he returned from World War I, he became a junior sub-inspector of con stabulary; and by sheer hard work and study he climbed up through the Depart ment, step by step. He passed in 1918 the law examinations necessary to allow him to conduct cases in the courts; and, by 1920, he was officer in charge of the CIB and a Sub-Inspector. He was Dis trict Inspector in 1925, and Superinten dent in 1938. In 1929 and in 1939 during long leave, he attended special courses at Scotland Yard, London, for senior police officers. He is an official member of the Suva Town Board.

“Luke” —as he is called by his friends —was on leave in Sydney, with Mrs.

Lucchinelli when the appointment was announced; and both of them, who are held in high regard in the Colony, re ceived many congratulations.

Colonel Workman came to Fiji as Police Commissioner in 1937, and he has been a highly esteemed and popular offi cer. His duties during the Pacific War were very onerous. Prior to coming to Fiji, he had served for 12 years in Gold Coast Colony.

In the current issue of the “Southern Cross Log,” the Melanesian Mission ex tends thanks to Mr. A. E. Ray, Burns, Philp & Co’s manager in Rabaul. The “Log” says that when mission staff have passed through Rabaul their stay was made more endurable by the helpfulness of Mr. Ray.

A photograph of Mr. Lucchinelli, taken some years ago.