OUR NEW GOVERNOR.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 824, 24 May 1910, Page 3

OUR NEW GOVERNOR.

ENGLISH PRESS NOTICES,

SOLDIER, POLITICIAN AND SOCIAL REFORMER.

The London "Daily Chronicle" of April 11 states:—

His Majesty tho King has been graciously pleased to approve the sippointment of Sir John Povnder DicksonPoynder, Bart,, D.5.0., to he Governor of the Dominion of New Zealaud in succession lo Lord Pluiikct, K.C'iM.G., K.C.Y.O. The new appointment will be a popular one, as Sir John DicksonPoynder comes of a distinguished family, and has done much useful work at Home and in the colonies. He is a large Wiltshire landowner, and as chairman of the Great Northern Hospital lie has helped to promote a bettet* understanding between the different London hospitals especially in regard to tlie King Edward's Hospital Fund. He has seen active sen ice in South Africa, where he did good work on Lord Methuen's staff, gaining tho D.S.O.- and a medal and three clasps, and has only recently returned from Canada, which colony ho visited as a Commissioner in copipany with Lord Balfour of Burleigh and Sir Daniel Morris, with the object of bringing about better trade relations between Canada and the West Indies. Sir John Dickson-Poynder is a wholehearted Free Trader, having, in fact, broken away from his old Conservative party, which he represented in Parliament from 1892, mainly on that subject. Knowing well what the condition of "Wiltshire labourer was in Protectionist times, he refused to have anything to do with the so-called Tariff "Reform," and was returned to Parliament in 1906 as a Liberal and FreeTrader. Sir John has for some limo past been actively associated with many reform movements, notably that velatiny to the housing of the, working classes. He was for a long period a prominent member of the London County Council, and, although he sat as a Moderate member for Finsbury, the Progressive Council in 1898 appointed him chairman of the Housing of the Working Classes Committee, and during liis tenure of office some /of the council's most notable schemes were carried out. Sir John's progressive views upon numerous occasions brought him into conflict with the majority of his party with which he differed upon many questions besides that of housing. In more recent years he has acted as president of the National Housing Reform Council, 'now the National Housing and Town Plani ning Council, perhaps the most virile of existing organisations connected with the movement. He took a prominent part in the agitation which resulted in the passing of Mr John Burin's Housing • and Town Planning Act of last session, and, m addition to making a number of notable speeches ill the House of Commons, presided at' several conferences that were called by the Council with the object of creating: greater public interest in the housing movement. Sir John has always exhibite<l a keen sympathy with proposals relating to social betterment, and his experience on various Parliamentary Committees brought him into close contact with the details:as well as the broad principles of this problem. Born m ISGG, Sit John Dickson-Poynder was educated at Harrow and Oxford. . In 1896 he married Miss Anee Beauclerc Dundas, the grand-daughter of Lord Napier of 'Mngdala, who. is popular in London society as well as with the tenants and people of North-West Wilts. Their only daughter is Joan' Alice Catherine, ■ a striking* picture of • mother and. child having been exhibited by J. J. Shannon, R.A., in ihe Royal Academy of 3905. Lady Dicksunloynder is an enthusiastic motorist and sportswoman, and is ulso keenly interested in literature and art. The son of an Admiral, Sir John Dickson-Poynder assumed the nanie of Poynder ho succeeded to his «maternal uncled property in 1881.

The. "Westminster Gazette" refers to the appointment in the following' paragraph Sir .Tohn Dickson-Povnder, who has been appointed Governor uf NewZealand in succession to Lord Phinkrt, is a man who has changed his political party without suffering any loss of respect in the process. Formerly a Conservative, lie broke with tho .Tories on the'fiscal controversy.. He had, however, before this always been a mail of democratic leanings and independent views— his independence bavins been further exemplified in the last Parliament, when lie spoke and voted against the Budget. He did not. stand at the last election; The" new Governor bf New Zealand has not only changed his political allegiance more than once, but likewise his name. Originally Sir John Dickson, he assumed tho additional name of roymlcr 011 succeeding his maternal uncle in the Hartham estates in ISSI. . On coming of a»e in 1887 he_ was obliged to reassumo tho name of Dickson, iir compliance with the settlement of his Scotch estates. He then barred the entail of that property, and again assumed the name of Poyndcr, 'in order to avoid a forfeiture of the Wiltshire estates under his uncle's will. Hartham, in Wiltshire, between Chippenham and Corsliam. is a beautiful place, famous for its gardens and its trees, and surrounded by charming country offering exquisite viows from the terrace of the mansion. The original structure of the latter is ahout 200 years old, but it was substantially added to at different periods between ISSO and 1860 by tho famous Hardwiclc. and later by the present occupant when he' came of age. Without 'any great architectural pretensions it is very comfortable • intemnllv, and admirably adapted for entertaining.