Death Of Alan H. Gauld

THE death occurred on December 6, in a private hospital at Crow’s Nest, Sydney, of Alan Henderson Gauld, who since 1934 has been in charge of the B.P. plantation interests in the Pacific, and has acted for the Company in its capacity as Agents for the Western Pacific High Commission.

The passing of Alan Gauld will be mourned by a host of his friends through out the Pacific Islands, for during his forty-odd years with Messrs. Burns, Philp & Co. he had travelled and worked in Micronesia, Melanesia, and Polynesia, and was held in esteem by all.

He was born in Queensland in 1888, joined the company in July, 1905, and for 18 months was engaged in head office duties. In 1907 he joined one of the com pany’s vessels trading to the Gilbert Islands.

In 1914 he was appointed manager of the company’s branch at Tarawa, where he remained until 1919.

In 1920 he was transferred to the Ton gan Group as manager of the Nukualofa branch, and remained there until April, 1926, when he was transferred to Faisi, in the Solomons. At end of 1926 he took charge of the Company’s plantation in terests on Bougainville. In April, 1933, he assumed control of B.P. plantations throughout New Guinea. A year later he returned to Sydney head office in charge of all plantation interests, and it was in this post that he remained until his death.

Alan Gauld leaves a widow and a son (Donald) and a daughter (Mrs. McKib

bin) .-

G.T.

(Until the December hurricane destroyed a large part of the Eastern Fiji copra plantations, the Fiji Government was pressing on with its plan to impose an export tax on copra. The copra interests were resisting bitterly, but the Governor pointed out that Fiji’s other two major industries—sugar and gold—had to bear an export tax—why should coconut planters escape? However, the cruel loss imposed by the storm upon the planters has altered the situation. This cartoon was drawn before the hurricane occurred.) HMG (which means His Majesty’s Government, and can also mean High wayman Gentleman) to Planters: But, my friends, I ask you for only £3 per ton! It might be very much worse. —cartoon by Rox.