Sir Ronald Garvey

New Governor of Fiji

rHE announcement, on January 11, that Sir Ronald Garvey, KCMG, Governor of British

[onduras, had been appointed

Governor of Fiji, in succession to ir Brian Freeston (retired), was eceived with peculiar pleasure hroughout the South Pacific Is mds.

Sir Ronald spent 25 years in the ervice of the Western Pacific High iommission; he married a well nown and popular Suva girl; and, Ithough he is English-born and ducated, he is regarded as a Pacific slander. For his outstanding bility, he is held in much respect; nd he is personally popular be ause of his charm of manner, ’here is no doubt that Suva will ive Sir Ronald and Lady Garvey a rarm welcome when they reach Government House.

Ronald Herbert Garvey was born i 1903, and he graduated MA at iambridge before joining the* Iritish Colonial Service in 1926. He ras anpointed in 1926 to a cadet hip in the Solomon Islands, but pent a year at WPHC headquarters i Suva before proceeding to Tulagi.

In the ensuing 25 years, he rose cep by step in the service of the VPHC, and in the 30’s he ranked nth Mr. H. E. Maude as “thei Jommission’s most useful young lan.” His record of service shows hat at one time and another he tiled practically every adminis rative post, up to Resident Com aissioner, in Solomons, New lebrides and Gilbert and Ellice Jolony, with long spells at head uarters, in Suva. * Apparently, it was the early 40’s efore Whitehall noticed his out tanding ability—he really had been eft a long time in the South Seas, ’hen, in 1943, he was promoted to n important executive position in Tanganyika; thence he was trans erred to an Administratorship in he West Indies; and, some three ears ago, he became Governor of Jritish Honduras. His knighthoon ollowed, soon afterwards.

Sir Ronald Garvey had no bed of uses in Central America. British londuras is surrounded by a lumber of fantastic little States, vhich appear to be either run by lictators, or honeycombed by Com nunists. Some of his neighbours hreatened to make war upon British Honduras, and the Reds vere a persistent nuisance. The jatience, firmness and strength ;hown by the young Governor were loticed and commented qpon.

In the 30’s, Sir Ronald Garvey named Miss Patricia McGusty, the Dretty daughter of Dr. and Mrs.

V. W. T. McGusty. Dr. McGusty 'or years, was the well-known

Director of Medical Services and Secretary for Indian Affairs in Fiji, and received various decorations.

He retired a few years ago, and he and Mrs. McGusty now live in New Zealand. The Garveys have a small family.