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Name: MAXWELL, Gerald Verner CMG
Photo Source: E.A, Annual 1932-3
Nee: son of Sir William Edward Maxwell KCMG Governor of the Gold Coast
Birth Date: 23.6.1877 Brighton
Death Date: 4 May 1965 Wentworth, New South Wales, Australia
First Date: 1921 on secondment from Fiji
Last Date: 1931
Profession: Chief Native Commissioner appointed to succeed Ainsworth when Oscar Watkins was passed over in 1921
Area: Nairobi
Married: 1900 Jean Crawford Blyth b. 1882 Balfron, Stirlingshire 2. Mrs Dorothy Vivienne May Attridge née Lewis b. 1902, d. 5 Aug 1997 Sydney, NSW
Children: Jean Margaret (15 Mar 1909 Suva, Central Fiji-1999)
Book Reference: Oscar, Perham, White African, Debrett, KAD, Red 25, Red 31, Red 22, CO, Dominion, Alumni, Gazette
School: Cheltenham, Bedford School (Exhibitioner) and Peterhouse College, Cambridge (scholar)
General Information:
Oscar - 'The new chief native commissioner, G.V. Maxwell, soon earned himself the nickname of 'Fijiwewe' from his habit of frequent reference to his former country. He had served many years in Fiji, where he had had some success in settling tricky problems of land ownership, and at first sight he seemed a good choice for a difficult job. He found himself in deep water almost at once, fighting for the survival of his post. Sir Edward Northey, who in 1920 had recommended that the post of deputy chief native commissioner be created, was in 1922 recommending the abolition not only of the deputy's post but also of that of chief native commissioner.' ......…
Maxwell certainly had the good of the African at heart, but he was a weak man whose own standing was even more important to him, and his pomposity made him unpopular with his subordinates. ............... He was an unhappy and lonely man thrown into a position from which he could not escape. .......... Daphne Moore, wife of a newly arrived chief secretary, described him in a letter to her mother: "The CNC to dinner. He is the best-hated man here after Martin and Grigg but he is an amiable little round-faced man to meet, with an ingratiating manner and maddeningly constant smile."
Debrett - appointed to Administrative Ser. Fiji 1898; was Chm. Native Lands Commn., Fiji 1912-21, and Ch. Native Commr., Kenya, and MEC and MLC 1921-31
Red 25 - District Commissioner 1900-12; Chairman of Native Lands Commission 1912-21
CO 533/371/3 - Confidential Reports 1927 - A good report is qualified by the statement that he lacks breadth of view and imagination in dealing with big questions in native affairs.
Dominion - Chief Native Commissioner 1930
Alumni - Cadet Fiji Civil Service 1898; Acting Stipendiary Magistrate at Macuata 1900; Acting Commissioner Naitasiri and Stipendiary Magistrate at Rewa 1901. Acting Chief Clerk 1902; Assistant Native Commissioner 1904; Native Lands Commissioner 1906; Stipendiary Magistrate at Lantok 1906. Chairman Native Lands Commission 1912-21; Acting Secretary for Native Affairs 1917; Chief Native Commissioner in Kenya 1921-31; retired CMG 1931. To Australia
Gazette 7/9/1921 - Arrived on 1st Appointment - Chief Native Commissioner - 21/8/1921
Perham - Chief Native Commissioner in 1929.
Red 25 - Committee Member, REAAA
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