Major Robert Duncan

Passes

From Our Mangala Correspondent THE many Mangaian friends of Major Robert Duncan (“Meitia”) have heard with regret that he died earlier this year at his home in Wales, where he had been living in retirement for some years. With him passes a chapter of Cook Islands history.

Major Duncan was formerly manager of the Mangaia branch of the Cook Islands Native Association, a well-known co-operative trading firm which was at its zenith between 1928 and 1933. In the latter year it was forced to close because of shipping and wholesale difficulties created by the depression but it had formerly supplied the Mangaians with trade goods at reasonable prices. While the CINA was flourishing, the genial Major, a veteran of the First World War, was its mainspring. He organised the shareholders, ran the store, supplied sub traders, and dealt with other minor affairs with ease and success.

The CINA which tried to bring the price of commodities within the reach of Islanders was popular with Mangaians who have a very low annual income. As it was conceived as a kind of branch of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union Trading Co., it was familiarly known as the “Farm.”

Major Duncan was decorated during his World War I service and his health was impaired by wounds sustained when he was blown up and buried in a trench. He is survived by his wife and a daughter.

Mr. W. V. Banting, Accountant-General, Fiji, and Mrs. Banting recently left the Colony for the United Kingdom. Mr.

Banting has been granted five months’ leave to attend to urgent private affairs.

Mr. and Mrs. B. K. Schram, of Spring field, Missouri, USA, are in Fiji for two or three inonths to gather material for articles for American magazines. They are people of charming social qualities and have made many friends.

The Governor of Queensland, Sir John Lavarack, recently paid an official visit to the Torres Straits and Cape York Penmsula. He met many islanders, some of whom sailed their luggers 150 miles to see him.