Ettlement Of

[?]b for L. Chalmers

Fiji's Hewa Area

nportant step in the economic irganisation of the Re w a lley, in Fiji (made necessary decision to close the Nausori mill —see March PIM ) was in April, when the Colonial Refining Company appointed L. Chalmers (manager at j) to the newly-created post -Settlement Manager, with larters at Nausori.

Chalmers is very well and ibly known in Fiji. Mrs. ers is a daughter of Sir Hugh /as explained in our March the cessation of the sugar ing industry in the Rewa t the end of the 1959 season, er a lot of planning, active ition and industrial readjust in 1957-53, if considerable lie trouble is to be avoided. ownership and usage must jidered; a far-reaching scheme inage and reading must be ced, if suitable new industries be established in place of reduction; a further scheme ouraging and training and g the Ind'rn and Fijian 5 and planters may be ry. 5 the various Government nents concerned were wonder sv to attack the problem—or of problems—so that re ent might become effective the Nausori mill closes down, R Co. quietly took its own es, and selected and appointed ialmers.

CSR Co. has large interests Rewa area, in land, buildings, ent of all kinds. It also has d without being asked

some considerable responsibility for the economic disturbance caused by the closing of the mill.

On present appearances, i t seems that Mr.

Chalmers will not only take charge of CSR Co. affairs, in relation to the Nausori close down, but also will act as the liaison officer be

tween the Company and the half dozen Departments of Government —such as Lands, Public Works, Agriculture, Educ a t i o n—which necessarily are involved in this far reaching change.

It is a big job, and an interesting one; and the way in which it is carried out will have considerable bearing upon the future of Suva, which lies so close to the important Rewa Valley. (I An important step in the progress of Papua and New Guinea was noted in April, when Mr. Richard Myerscough was sent to Port Moresby to be the permanent rep resentative there of the big press association, Australian Associated Press-Reuter. Hitherto, AAP- Reuter has not been represented in the dual Territory by a staff man.

Since April, and in the future, the chief news events of the Territory are being covered by daily despatches from Port Moresby to the principal Australian newspapers.

Mr. J. L. Chalmers (left) photographed in Suva last month with his father-in-law (Sir Hugh Ragg).

Photo: C. H. Meen.