Tribute to Sir Maynard

Hedstrom

Prom Our Own Correspondent SUVA, June 14.

IT is interesting to learn that Burns Philp, with its tentacles all over the Pacific, lives in fear and trembling f Morris, Hedstrom. . . All the time, Morris, Hedstrom have been wondering yhen BP’s was going to end our career!

This amusing insight into the palpita ions of our higher commercial circles iras provided by Sir Maynard Hedstrom vhen the Suva Chamber of Commerce ave a dinner at the Grand Pacific Hotel n honour of Sir Maynard’s completion if 25 years as president—a position from vhich he has just retired.

Sir Maynard’s remark was directed at >ne of the vice-presidents, Mr. John rrotter (managing director of Burns >hilp (SS) Co., Ltd.), who had said, re erring to Sir Maynard’s establishment, hat “no one had any fear of the Big Firm, vhich had never used its power im jroperly.”

The dinner, which was attended by nore than 40 members, was clearly a genuine tribute by the Suva European justness community to an acknowledged 6 “Itorn in Fiji, Sir Maynard has ‘made r ood’ in every possible way,” said the lew president (Mr. Alport Barker), who lointed out that Sir Maynard’s was the irst knighthood bestowed in Fi.p, that or 29 years he had been an elected mem ber of the Legislative Council and for 55 years president of the Suva Chamber >f Commerce—almost certainlv a record imong British chambers of commerce.

In the course of his reply. Sir Maynard laid a warm tribute to the work of the chamber’s secretary, Mr. C. W. Aidney, svho is at present on a health visit to SForfolk Island.