He joined his brother William in Fiji in 1898 and became a member of the civil service,[2] starting as a clerk.

[5] Shortly after becoming Native Commissioner, he was appointed to the Legislative Council.

[3] During World War I he headed the Fiji Labour Corps,[3] attaining the rank of captain.

[2] After retiring from the civil service in 1920, he became a coconut planter.

[7] He was sent to the Solomon Islands in 1922 as a special commissioner to investigate labour conditions.