Mk. P. A. Morris

Dead At 82

Co-Founder of Morris Hedstrom Limited

THE death occurred in Sydney, on August 29, at the age of 82, of Mr.

Percy Atherton Morris who, half a century ago, with John Maynard Hed strom, established the great South Seas merchandising company of Morris Hed strom, Ltd.

Mr. Morris was bom in Wisconsin, USA; but he went with his parents to Australia at an early age and was educated at

Newing ton College, Sydney. He arrived in Fiji about 1890, when in his early twen ties, and be gan trading; and, soon afterwards, in Levuka, he

became associated with Maynard Hed strom, who was four years his junior.

The two young men, as Morris Hedstrom and Co. took over the merchandising business of Miller Hedey, in Levuka. The firm grew, and Hedstrom extended its activities to the new town of Suva, while Morris remained at the helm in Levuka. They bought out the interests of Arthur Joske, in Suva, and of R. Bentley and Co., in Levuka: and, some considerable time later, of Henry Marks and Co., Ltd. In the course of this steady, rapid growth, the partnership was merged in the company which was re gistered as Morris Hedstrom Ltd., some 50 years ago.

About 1921, Mr. Morris retired from ac tive management, and went to live in Sydney. His large residence on Belle vue Hill, looking north-eastward over Sydney Heads, was well known to old Fijians during the ensuing quarter cen tury.

Mr. Morris, like his partner, took a keen interest in Fiji public affairs; but he was over 50 when he retired in 1921, and not many of the present generation of Fiji business people knew that he was still alive and well. He was remarkable for his strength and vitality—even after his 80th birthday, he continued to play tennis and seldom missed his morning round of golf. Until his death, he re tained his seat on the Board of Morris Hedstrom Ltd., ranking next in seniority to Sir Maynard Hedstrom. Percy Morris and Maynard Hedstrom married sisters (members of the well-known Eastgate family, of Fiji), so that they were not only successful business partners—they also were brothers-in-law and life-long friends.

Mr. Morris is survived by two sons and a daughter—Dr. P. A. Morris and Mr.

Dave Morris, and Mrs. Claude Monckton, well known to old residents of Fiji. All are now residents of Sydney. Mrs Morris, senior, died about five years ago.

The late Mr.

P. A. Morris, at about 30 years of age, after he entered into partnership with J. Maynard Hedstrom.