Man, Too

Now He's A Copra

From a Suva Correspondent WITH a wealth of experience behind him in handling industrial relations, Fiji’s new copra boss, Mr.

H. G. S. Nicholls, will bring many gifts to his new job—but loquacity is not one of them.

Mr. Nicholls had nothing to say when I sought an interview with him about his recent appointment as chairman of Fiji’s new Coconut Industry Board (see p. 61). It’s a part-time job, and Mr. Nicholls retains his post as chairman of directors of South Pacific Sugar Mills Ltd., the CSR subsidiary in Fiji.

An industrial chemist, Mr. Nicholls joined CSR in Queensland, and went to Fiji in 1931 when he was 25 to do sugar research.

He served as CSR’s industrial officer and manager of its Penang and Lautoka Mills before becoming the company’s chief inspector in Fiji in 1957. Three years later he was made chairman of CSR’s subsidiary com pany Rewa Rice Ltd., and in 1961, chairman of SPSM.