Sir Brian Freeston

May Retire This Year

rHE Governor of Fiji and High Com missioner for the Western Pacific, Sir Brian Freeston, probably will •etire from the British Colonial Service at ;he end of this year.

There has been no official announce nent, but he has indicated, more than mce, his personal wish to bring his long md notable Colonial Office career to an *nd about this time.

Sir Brian’s outstanding achievement, ;ince he became Governor of Fiji, has lain n the assistance he has given to the lewly-fledged South Pacific Commission. \.part from the fact that he has been senior Commissioner on this Commission hr the United Kingdom since its es ablishment, he has assisted the new >rganisation in many ways, and in difficult drcumstances. Without the active good vill of Sir Brian, and the organising enius of Secretary-General W. D. Forsyth, he history of the SPC could have been rery different. Those two men, together— Sir Brian, as President, and Mr. Forsyth, is organiser—also brought success to the South Pacific Conference, last year, when nany observers thought it might be a ather dismal failure.

In the difficult and often irritating con litions which surround the Governorship )f Fiji (the Governor has to exercise lutocratic nower over three completely listinct communities) Sir Brian has been 'ery ably helped by his wife. Lady Free iton has taken her full share of the merous duties imposed on Government louse, and is held in very high regard )y the people of Fiji.