Former Fiji

Life Story Of Former Fiji Governor

Although he had one of the lortest terms as Governor of iji—from 1945 to 1947—Sir lexander Grantham is con dered by many residents of the olony to have been one of the »t.

THOSE who remember him thus - will like to read his autobio aphy, Via Ports, recently published a limited edition by the Hong ong University Press.

Sir Alexander began his Civil :rvice life in Hong Kong, as a det, in 1922; it was back to Hong ong that he was transferred, as overnor, in 1947—probably be use the Colonial Office considered at HK needed his abilities more an Fiji.

Nearer His Heart

He remained there until his retire ent in 1957, and it is obvious that s China postings were a great deal jarer his heart than any of the hers —although they included the en well-worn path to Governor- K>d —the Pacific, West Indies and frica.

Nonetheless, he has some pleasant ings to say about his sojourn in e Pacific made at a time when e Governor of Fiji was also the igh Commissioner for the Western icific. The office was split after r Alexander left, the HCWP now ing in Honiara, BSIP.

In his role of HCWP, Sir Alexander id American-born Lady Grantham

visited all the territories—BSlP, the New Hebrides, the Gilbert and Ellice Islands and—as the relationship with Tonga was then more direct Nukualofa.

They probably regarded those two years as something of a respite from the more pressing problems of West Africa, from whence they came in 1945, and those of war-mangled Hong Kong to which they went two years later.

Fiji they found pleasant, and Government House, Suva, well laid out but much in need of re furnishing. It had, according to Sir Alexander, been built to replace another destroyed by a hurricane.

Its exterior design follows closely that of the museum in Colombo, which took the fancy of Fiji’s Governor at the time GH was being re-built. So that there could be no doubt, he sent a picture-postcard of the museum, and HM contractors had it faithfully carried out—which accounts for the slightly wedding cake air Fiji’s Government House presents to the world.

Both Granthams took keen delight in their touring, both by small vessels and by RNZAF flying-boats, and thus gained a first-hand knowledge, not only of how the indigenous people of the Islands lived, but of what Britain’s overseas public servants had to put up with in bring ing government to them.

Dog Kennel

He describes how Mrs. H. E.

Maude (at the time that Mr. Maude was Resident Commissioner of the GEIC, before he resigned to join the South Pacific Commission and sub sequently the National University in Canberra), had a large dog-kennel made for herself and placed on the deck of one of the Colony small ships. In this, says Grantham, “the cultured but practical wife of the RC . . . slept, as the only way of getting a decent night’s rest and not being pitched out of her bunk or overcome by the suffocating heat in the cabin below”.

The two tours that the Governor himself enjoyed most, however, were his five-day safaris on horseback across Viti Levu and Vanua Levu.

Thirty pages of this most interest ing book are devoted to Fiji and the South Pacific. Except for one page, the former Governor wisely leaves Fiji’s political and economic pro blems alone. What he does say, however, emphasises the very grave character of the politico-economic situation in Fiji, the result of racial incompatibility, and the high birth rate of the Indian community.

When it came time to leave the South Seas he did so with regret: “The reality (was more) enchanting than the dream, and exceeding all my expectations. The memory of the Islands and the charm of their peoples will ever remain with me.”

Sir Alexander’s story is told at tractively in simple and chatty style.

Perhaps it over-simpifies the job of Colonial Governor in the uncertain times we are living through, but his account of the private and public moments of a top public servant will offend no one and entertain quite a few. The book is of 208 pages; illustrated and indexed and with map endpapers. (VIA PORTS. Published by Hong Kong University Press, distributed in Australia by Oxford University Press. 68/-).