AUSTRALIA'S GOVERNOR

Chronicle (Levin), 29 November 1946, Page 5

AUSTRALIA'S GOVERNOR

press Assn.-

Nomination of Politician ? IMP0RTANT ISSUE AT STAKE

. y Telegraph

-Copyright

ffedeive.d Thursday, 11.50 p.m. LAN j I LiiRA, , No v. 28. The report that the Premier of Xew ^outli Wales (Mt. AlcKeil) has been nominated By the Federal Uovei'nmeiit. as the next Uovernor-Geiieral of Australia was refeiT'ed to in the Hoitse of Representatives today by the Leader of the Oppositon (Mr. R tv. Menzies).

"The matter is not neeessarily one of party politics because the division of opinion 011 the proposed appointment will not be along party lines. it is one of high aird important prineiples. The Lover-nor-CJeneralship has a siignificanee which has l)een increased rathel than decreased by the development of the modern eonstitutioiial status of the Dominions. The Lovernor-General of Australia being the King's direet personal representative, the appointment oi' soinebodv notoriously not choseo by or in effective eonsultation with liini and whose a})pointment wouhl l)y reason of party political convictions be distasteful to "t large section of Australian citizens niUst inevitably weaken the symbolisui of the GoveriiOr-General an.l

therefore of the Cfown. "The immediate point at issue is not whether an Australiaii sliould be eligible for appointment as Govemor-General but whether an active party political leader sliould be transl'erred ln his own party to a post whieli sliould by tradition, and indeed. neeessity, be completely i'ree of part^ ])olitics. We wholebeartedlv affirm that the highest posts sliould be open to Australians pf charaeter and talent. There is certainly 110 reason wliy Australian citizens sliould n'ot be regarded as eligible for vice-regal ap})ointments in _ British Entpire countries, in. for example, Gttnad,i, New Zealand, lndia or Sout! Africa, as well as in Australia. ll is cviually clear that there must bc outstandilig citzens in tliose othei countries who would be richly qualified for appointments in Australia. " The leader of tlie Countn Party (Mr. Fadden) said he full; concurfed with the views oi' Mi Menzies whieli had been delivcml after 'close cOllaboration with h is party.'

"I do not propose to canv'as: the matters raised in the state ment by the Leader of the Opposition sitpported by Ihe Leader oi' the Coimtry Party," said tln Prime IMinister (AI r. Ghifiey) in reply. I i'eel that making sucb a statement at tliis particular tiine is likely to cause embarrassnienl to the Oown and create difficul ties in the minds of those eharged with the responsibilitv in respcct of these matters. "I have responsibilities in regard to making a reeommendation to tlie Ci'own in tliis particular matter. ln making tliis reeommendation I have as inuch regard for Ihe welfare oi' Australia as an> member of the Opppsition. The statement will not ohly cause eni barrassment but is intended to cause embarrassment. 1 will say 110 more 011 tliis matter wliile it is Ihe subject of reeoniinendation. "