The Queen
p. 95 · Read in the full issue
No Clam-Shells For
Mr. William Schutz, Man
ager of Tangi Tangi, the Gil bertese native co-operative society, which he founded in 1938, sailed from Suva for Tarawa aboard Te MatapuLa late in March, after a holiday in Fiji.
When Mr. Schutz arrived in Fiji shortly before the Royal Visit, he brought with him the four biggest clam-shells his employees had been able to locate in the Gilberts. Shar ing the opinion of some G & EIC residents (including natives) who were disappointed that no official arrangements had been made to present a gift from the G & EIC to Her Majesty and the Duke of Edinburgh, Mr. Schutz, on his own initiative, arranged for the clam shells to be collected. He person ally supervised their shipment to Suva, and notified the authorities in Fiji of the proposed gift from the people of the G & EIC.
In due course he received official advice that the clam-shells could not be offered as a gift from the G & EIC to Her Majesty, as the proposed presentation had not been arranged through G & EIC Govern ment channels. The clam-shells now grace the homes of some of Mr. Schutz’s friends in Fiji. —Jack Thornton.