William Granger Johnson Explained

William Granger Johnson
Office1:Nominated Member of the Legislative Council
Term1:1944–1947, 1953–1959
Birth Date:28 July 1900
Birth Place:Suva, Fiji
Death Date:1978 (aged 78)
Death Place:Australia

William Granger Johnson (28 July 1900 – 1978) was a Fijian businessman and politician, serving as a nominated member of the Legislative Council in two spells during the 1940s and 1950s.

Biography

Granger was born in Suva in 1900,[1] the only son of Australian Blance (née Wadeson) and Canadian William Henry "Tavua" Johnson.[2] Growing up, he was given the nickname Tui (chief), becoming known as Tui Johnson. He married Val, with whom he had five children,[2] and also joined the Fiji Defence Force, becoming a lieutenant.[3] In 1930 he was appointed German consul in Fiji.[4]

He went into business and after working at Brown and Joske, he joined W.R. Carpenter in 1937,[5] going on to become managing director. He later served as chairman of the Suva Chamber of Commerce.[6]

Following the 1944 elections, he was appointed to the Legislative Council by Acting Governor John Fearns Nicoll as one of the two nominated European members.[7] In 1945 he was an acting member of the Executive Council, covering for the absent Hugh Ragg.[8] Although he was not reappointed following the 1947 elections, he was nominated to the Legislative Council again in 1953,[9] serving until the 1959 elections. He also served on Suva Town Council, representing the Muanikau ward until retiring in 1955.[10] [11]

Johnson retired in 1970 and moved to Queensland in Australia.[12] He died in Australia in 1978 at the age of 78.[13]

Notes and References

  1. https://fijilandofourfathers.com/tavua-johnson/ Tavua Johnson
  2. https://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-324585538/view?sectionId=nla.obj-333350175&partId=nla.obj-324616993#page/n80/mode/1up Prince of Fiji commerce
  3. https://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-314353541/view?sectionId=nla.obj-328919229&partId=nla.obj-314377549#page/n58/mode/1up Indian platoon in Fiji Defence Force
  4. https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/33638/page/5295/data.pdf The London Gazette
  5. https://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-312674955/view?sectionId=nla.obj-328685589&partId=nla.obj-312693631#page/n50/mode/1up Mr. W.G. Johnson
  6. https://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-319422396/view?sectionId=nla.obj-373933856&partId=nla.obj-319491760#page/n16/mode/1up PAYE is unpopular
  7. https://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-315148632/view?sectionId=nla.obj-329295157&partId=nla.obj-315157056#page/n10/mode/1up Fiji election: Constitution of New Council
  8. https://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-315176323/view?sectionId=nla.obj-329377812&partId=nla.obj-315202412#page/n48/mode/1up Late Fiji news
  9. https://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-325566150/view?partId=nla.obj-325602521#page/n24/mode/1up New Fiji Legislative Council
  10. https://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-318416413/view?sectionId=nla.obj-330955685&partId=nla.obj-318419765#page/n21/mode/1up Suva's new councillors
  11. https://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-318925666/view?sectionId=nla.obj-333099927&partId=nla.obj-318998118#page/n161/mode/1up "Even a Ratepayer Can Understand Suva Finances Now"
  12. https://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-331795624/view?sectionId=nla.obj-341566089&partId=nla.obj-331900063#page/n38/mode/1up And so say all of us
  13. https://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-335810636/view?partId=nla.obj-335890393#page/n70/mode/1up/search/death Tui Johnson