Deaths of Islands People

Mr. E. F. Paul

Every prominent person in Western Samoa, from the Head of State, HH Malietoa Tanumafili 11, was at the graveside at Magiagi cemetery in January for the funeral of one of the country’s most prominent busi nessmen and a former statesman, Mr. Eugene Friedrich Paul, QBE, who died in the Queen’s Hospital in Honolulu on December 28, the day after a spinal operation.

There was a solemn ceremony at Faleolo Airport when the coffin was taken from the plane. The Prime Minister, Tupua Tamasese, covered it with the Flag of Freedom and a fine mat was placed on it by

Tama-a-Aiga Tuimalealiifano, mem ber of the Council of Deputies. The RC Bishop of Apia, Bishop Pio Taofinuu, said the opening prayers and the Rev. Faulalo Sagapolutele led the mourners who included the Chief Justice, Mr. Barrie Spring, cabinet ministers and members of parliament.

In a brief eulogy, the Prime Minister described Mr. Paul as “a great friend, a kind father, a long time associate, a leader and a hero”.

There were nearly 100 vehicles in the cortege which accompanied the body to Vailima where it lay in state until the funeral which was preceded by a requiem mass said in Mulivai Cathedral by Bishop Pio assisted by the president of the Methodist Church, the Rev, Amani Amituanai.

Mr. Paul, who was 71, was educated at the German Government School and the Marist Brothers’

School in Apia. No sooner had he completed his education than he was off to join the American armed forces.

Returning to Western Samoa at the end of World War I, he worked in key positions for P. C. Fabricius and O. F. Nelson, but at the age of 25 he decided to branch out on his own account. He established the Gold Star Transport in 1926, Samoa Theatres Ltd. in 1935, and the Samoa Printing and Publishing Co. in 1945.

Five years after opening the last named business, he published the Samoa Bulletin and continued pub lishing it until 1966.

His many other business interests included directorships in the Apia Bottling Co., Island Bottlers of Fiji Ltd., Samoa Plantations Ltd., the

Western Samoa Lighterage Co. Ltd. and the Bank of Western Samoa.

He was concerned in the formation of Polynesian Airlines, becoming chairman in 1960, and while actively engaged in commerce was president of the Chamber of Commerce.

Politics claimed his interest towards the end of the 1940 s and in 1948 he became the first European member of the Legislative Assembly. Ten years later, as the country moved towards independence, he became Leader of Government Business and from 1959 to 1961 was Minister of

Finance, Customs, Inland Revenue and Harbours.

When independence came in 1961, Mr. Paul was in the running for the job of prime minister but, instead, he retired from politics. The follow ing year he received an OBE.

In spite of his many business and political interests, he still found time for sport. His name was on many a committee sheet and he was an active member of the Apia Golf Club, the Apia Turf Club and the Apia Rugby Union.

He married Flora, daughter of Mr.

Norman H. Macdonald, in 1924. She survives him along with sons Peter and Norman, and daughter Joan.

Judge W. 0. Wally

Judge William Omengkar Wally, associate judge of the Palau District Court, Micronesia, died in the US Naval Hospital in Guam on January 11, from a liver complaint. Judge Wally had been a patient at the Koror hospital, and was flown to Guam two

days before his death, after he had lapsed into a coma.

Judge Wally was appointed to the District Court only in 1971. Before that he had been Palau District Public Defender for more than 10 years.

Captain W. C. Blair A former marine adviser to the Cook Islands Government, Captain Wilfred Clough Blair has died at his home in Hamilton, NZ, at the age of 58.

Well known in Pacific shipping circles, he sailed in about 40 ships during his life-long career on the sea and once founded a shipping line. He related his struggles for his shipping line in a book he wrote, Shoestring Shipping Line.

He leaves a widow and five children.

Mr. J. R. Fold!

One of Sir Hubert Murray’s “out side men” of Papua, John Rollo Foldi, died in Sydney in December, at the age of 67.

Born in Scotland, Mr. Foldi went to Papua as a young man to work on Robinson River plantation. He soon joined the Papuan Administra tion, and for many years worked on the government ship Laurabada.

A major in the army administra tion unit, ANGAU, during World War II, Mr. Foldi later became an officer of the Department of District Services, was District Commissioner and Assistant Director for a period, retiring after 11 years in the critical post of DC, Rabaul, in 1965.

Mr. Foldi served on the PNG Legislative Council for 14 years, and his large but very energetic figure was well-known throughout the terri tory. He is survived by his widow and two sons, Mrs. Foldi lives in Sydney.

Mr. J. R. Foldi.