The Last District Officer. John Pritchford. A career that began in Northern Rhodesia/Zambia but ended as the last District Officer of the Gilbert and Ellice Islands in the Mid-Pacific. His career was eclectic with its climax being his role in reducing the G. and E. fertility rate from 6.82% to 4.39% through a song competition! Such was his life and such is what the book is about! Like new except for 10 pages being turned down.