Barker takes over Fiji Times
WHILE The Fiji Times founder George Griffiths was still alive, his competition came from a rival newspaper, Western
Pacific Herald, owned by Thomas William Alport Barker, a lawyer, who did not practice law.
Upon George’s death in 1908, his son Arthur took over the business but not for long.
Arthur quickly sold it to a limited liability company in 1912 so that his children could move to Sydney, Australia and pursue quality education.
In 1918, when the limited liability company could not compete with Barker’s newspaper, The Fiji Times was merged with Western Pacific
Herald (under Barker’s ownership) and given the name Fiji Times and Herald.
Barker also controlled the Samoa
Herald for several years until 1936. While in the newspaper business, he served as chairman of the Suva Chamber of Commerce.
In 1909, he married Evelyn Turner, daughter of Legislative Council member James Burton Turner, and had a daughter, Molly.
Barker later became Sir Alport, when he was made a Commander of the British Empire in the 1946 New Year Honours, and later knighted in the 1951 New Year Honours.
He was a member of the Fiji’s Legislative Council for more than 20 years.
Barker was also involved in sports and was president of the Suva Rugby Union for 15 years.
After his wife died on November 27, 1951, he returned to New Zealand and remarried in 1952, but died on June 14, 1956 in Auckland, aged 82.
During his time in the legislative council he became a member of the executive council.
He was also elected to the Suva Town Council in January 1949, and served as chairman of the Town Board for three years.
He was mayor of the city on five occasions.
Sir Alport died in 1956.
NEXT WEEK: To be continued