Active and Useful Life of Sir Alport Barker

Fiji Pioneer Dies

A NOTHER link with the early history of Fiji was broken on June 14, when Sir Thomas Alport Barker died in an Auckland hospital, at the age of 82.

Although he was born in Akaroa, New Zealand, he went to Fiji before the turn of the century (as articled clerk to a lawyer), and spent over €0 years of his life in the Colony.

For most of that time, he was actively engaged in newspaper pro duction and printing, and during much of his working life he took a prominent part in public affairs.

Sir Alport Barker, only in Feb ruary last, sold his publishing busi ness (Fiji Times and Herald Ltd), to Pacific Publications Pty. Ltd., of Sydney, and retired to New Zea land, to make his home in Auck land. He then appeared to be in good health.

In two ways, Sir Alport became closely associated with Fiji's early history. Through a series of busi ness transactions, he became in terested in the printing industry; later he established a newspaper in Suva, called the Western Pacific Herald, in 1901; and in 1918 he merged this with The Fiji Times, which he had purchased. The Fiji Times, established by Mr. G. L.

Griffiths, had been continuously published since its first issue on September 4, 1869; and in its files,

between 1869 and 1900, may be found the full story of how Fiji was colonised by Europeans, and became a British Colony in 1874.

Early in the century, Alport Barker married Miss Evelyn May Turner, daughter of a famous pioneer settler, Mr. J. B. Turner. James Burton Turner, who was born in New Zealand in 1849, had wandered around the world in his youth, but in 1869 (the year The Fiji Times was established) he settled on a

Sir Alport Barker.

rich area beside the Rewa River, and became one of Fiji’s most suc cessful planters, and a notable public man.

Sir Alport Barker was an elected member of the Fiji Legislative Council for 25 years, a member of Executive Council for seven years.

Mayor of Suva for many years, President of the Suva Chamber of Commerce for four years, President of the Suva Rugby Union for 20 years, Chairman of the Fiji Publicity Board for many years, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Fiji Museum, President of the Fiji Branch of the Royal Life Saving Society, and a Director of W. R.

Carpenter & Co. (Fiji) Ltd., Suva Motors Ltd., Fiji Investment Trust Ltd., and Fiji Transport Co. Ltd.

With the active and personal in terest he took in the production of a daily newspaper he worked long and hard, even in his advancing years. Nevertheless, he was always available to carry out public duties and to meet residents who continu ally sought his assistance.

In addition to these activities, Sir Alport was connected with many sporting bodies. He took a keen interest in horse-racing, when meet ings were held at Brighton Park up to about 20 years ago.

One of the outstanding events in his political record was his success in getting the Rewa Bridge built, a project for which he battled for many years. The value of the bridge was amply proved when the gold mining industry was established shortly after its completion; and, particularly, during the war.

SIR ALPORT was a fearless critic of Government when he con sidered it necessary, both in the Legislative Council and through the columns of his newspaper.

When Sir Murchison Fletcher, then Governor of Fiji, sought to im pose a completely nominative system on the Legislative Council, Sir Alport and Mr. J. P. Bayly went to London at their own expense to interview the Secretary of State for the Colonies; and, as a result of their efforts, the Governor’s plan was amended, to become the system in operation to-day.

To those who knew him in timately, Sir Alport was a very gen erous man, and a man who disliked any publicity being given his acts of kindness. He was a staunch friend to many of the older re sidents who needed assistance in their declining years.

Sir Alport was made a Com mander of the Order of the British Empire in 1946, and created a Knight on January 1, 1951. He had one daughter (Mrs. M. A. Ryan), a granddaughter (Sabrina), and a grandson (Frank Alport Ryan).

Lady Barker died in November, 1951, and a year later Sir Alport married Mrs. May Winifred Watson, of Parnell, Auckland, who survives him.