LORD ISLINGTON.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1516, 12 August 1912, Page 6

LORD ISLINGTON.

THE MAN AND HIS WORK. AN APPBECIATION. (By one who has watched his CAIIEEU.) The position of Governor of one of tho overseas Dominions does not give any great opportunities for the display of the talents the King's representative may possess as a politician or as a statesman. There are few, if any, opportunities afforded in such a position for the display of constructive ability. Neither does a man who has l>eeii a strenuous worker in Uio field of politics get much chance of displaying tho energy that is in him. Like an old warhorso ho may sniff the battle from afar, and long to bo in it, but the freo action and tho clash of arms are not for him who occupies the seat of Governorship. It often happens, therefore, that a self-governing colony takes some timo to And out tno capabilities of its Governor. Now Zealanders have by this timo no doubt a very high appreciation of their present Governor, both as a man and as a public speaker of more than ordinary ability, but they aro v probably almost entirely unaware of tho work ho has done at different periods within tho sphere of British politics. To ono who has followed his career, it came as no surpriso to learn that ho had been selected for tho very important post to which tho King, on tho recommendation of his advisers, has now called him. In the session of_ 1893 our present Governor (then Sir J. Dickson-Poynder) was beginning to make his mark among tho abler members of the Conservative rank and filo. During the session of 1901 there camo tho first signs of revolt on tho part of a group of Unionist members, who, led by Mr. Winston Churchill (already a power in tho House), had banded themsolvos together in favour of economy, and in particular to resist tho growth of expenditure in tho army. The most prominent of this band, says tho author of "Fourteen Years in tho British Parliament," were Mr. Winston Churchill, Colonel Seeley, Mr. Ernest Beckett, Sir J. DicksonPoynder, Mr. Vicary Gibbs, Mr. Gouldiug, and Sir Gilbert Parker. They formed a "care" that substantially contributed to tho ultimate downfall of the Government.

Tariff Reform, The bombshell of Tariff Reform, subsequently thrown into tho political arena by Mr. Chamberlain, however, scattered this little set •in various directions. As a historical fact that has never before been published, it is worth mentioning that the very first whisper of Mr. Chamberlain's tariff reform proposal was given by Mr. Chamberlain himself at a dinner parly in the house of our present Governor in London. Lord Islington himself related tho circumstance to the writer some timeago. The men were chatting over an after-dinner cigar 'about politics and the fortunes of the party, when Mr. Chamberlain remarked that in a day or two -ho would jmt forward a proposal that 'would scatter this rebellious young crew to the four winds of heaven. ' With that enigmatical remark ho' rose from the table, and went out to join the ladies in tho drawingroom. The young politicians were left to puzzlo their brains as to what "tho old man" meant, but they got no indication from the sphinx-like sfatesman. A fewdays later Mr. Chamberlain launched his tariff reform proposals, "and suro enough," said Lord Islington, "wo woro scattered to tho winds." Of this group, Winston Churchill, Beckett, and Lord Islington joined the Liberal party when Tariff Reform became tho chief issuo. It is "interesting to note that to-day— within a few years of tho disruptionWinston Churchill is First Lord of tho Admiralty, Colonel Seoley. is Secretary for War, and Lord Islington, after doing good work in the capacity of Governor of New Zealand, has now been singled out for still more strenuous and important service.

Indian Public Service. In tho limited space available, one cannot d 6 more than give, a mere outline of Lord Islington's various political activities. The point that New Zehlandcrs will no doubt ask about is why has the British Cabinet to go outsido of England to secure a controlling head for such an important Commission as it is proposed to sot up, and one of the criticisms tnat will probably lie levelled against the appointment of Lord Islington is that he knows very little about tho Indian Public Service. The criticism, however, is altogether in favour of Mr. Asquith's judgment liecause any man who does know about the Indian Service would most likely have a certain- amount of bias, though it might bo only unconscious bias. Lord Islington will enter upon his task with an absolutely impartial mind. But the strongest point in his favour is that he has already had large and valuable experience upon important commissions, as well as upon important committees of tho House of Commons. Ho has tho faculty of pleasant control largely, developed, both naturally and from experience, lie has "savoir faire" coupled with a "savoir vivre," and an ability to elicit information that should make him an ideal chairman. Tho guiding hand will bo delicate yet firm! and no matter how long the commission' sits he will bo a,shrewd man who will discover what opinions the chairman has formed. Nevertheless, by the time the taking of evidence is at an end tho head of tho commission will have come to definite conclusions, and his influence and opinions will be a predominant factor in moulding tho Teport. It may be—<is in tho.case of tho three commissions which have been sitting in New Zealand— that ho will have to report to a party in power other than that which gnvo him his commission, but all tho same the report is suro to be a valuable one. Tho recent unrest in India, which some people say is to some'extent the' result of the policy of tho party already in power, has no doubt made it imperative that such a commission should be appointed. The shifting of the capital to Delhi has tot been enough. The scopo and the importance of the work ontrusted to Lord Islington's hands by his Majesty will therefore ke apparent.

Imperial Commission. Lord Islington's experience, as already stated, is extensive. Now Zcahinders nro probably unaware of the very vrido field it has covered. Just prior to his departure for New Zealand ho was a member of the Royal Commission appointed to inquire into the trade relations between the West Indian Islands and Canada. Th«Te were on that commission some notable men. Lord Balfour of Burleigh, who, by the way, is a past master in the art of chairnmnship, was at the head of it, and included in its membership were the Hon. Mr. Foilding (Canadian Minister for Finance), the Hon. Mr. Patterson (Minister for Customs), and Sir Daniel Morris (Director of Agriculture in the West Indies). It was the first Commission composed of men from Great Britain and the outside Dominions. In other words, it was the pioneer of Imperial Commissions. Since then there has been appointed the. Imperial Trade Commission, upon which the self-governing Dominions., including New Zealand, have representatives. The. result, of the labours of this AVest Indies-. Canadian Commission will he a complete system of preference, and an improved system of transj)ort between the Iwo countries. An interesting point about this Commission is that Lord Islington had (o leave I'nglanr] before the report was finally drafted, and he had (a siirn it by proxy. However, he sent from New Zealand a memorandum of his own which has been quoted very nearly as widely as tho report itself.

Free Trade and Protection. I remember on one occasion asking Lord Islington how he, professing free-trade principles, flint led to his severing his connection with tho Unionist party, could agree to a report that proposed a preferential tariff between two of the overseas Dominions. Ilis answer was interesting ami quite logical. "Lord Balfour and I are both Free-traders in England," ho said, "because we consider (hat. the Homo consumer, with the. small margin thcro is, cannot nffoTd tho higher prices incident, to a protective system. The .trade of Great Britain has been built up through, and rests upon, a Free-trade basis, and I have always realised the danger there_ is of anything in the nature of a protective Rvsteiij increasing the cost of living. My objection to Imperial preference is that you must first introduce tho nrotcctivo system at, Home in-order to establish preference. In regard to the West Indies, however, we found a group of islands with their own systems of Government — .Crown colony and guasi-Crown colour—

protective in character as regards their fiscal arrangements. When wo got to Canada, wo found alto the protective system in force. Wo were not aslced in our order of reference to say whether Canada was right or wrong in regard to its fiscal ideas. Wo wore not asked to say who. thcr the West Indies were right or wrong. We found both,counf:ries with a protective system, and we made recommendations that would he of benefit to both under, existing conditions, without risk of inconveniciico to anyone, and without disturbance to the present fiscal system in practicc."

Important Reports. Another important Commission on which .Lord. Islington acted was the Loudon Tariff Commission. Tho f resent Lord Chancellor of England was mi that commission, together with Sir Francis Hopwood, Sir George Gibb, Sir Felix Schuster, Lord Cawdor, Lord Cobhaui, and Sir David Barber, ex-Fiuanco Minister of India. It is well known that Lord Islington had a good deal to do with (he writing of that report. Tho wireless., Telegraphy Committee sot up by tho Houso of Commons hud Lord Islington for it) chairman. Its object was the ratification of tho work of the International Convention in connection with wireless telegraphy. The ultimate result was freo trade in wiroless telegraphy instead of monopolies by separate organisations. Lord Islington was also chairman of tho Housing Committee set up by tho Hous<j of Conuuonsi upon -tho report of which. Mr. John Burjis's Housing and Public Health Bill was largely based. As most politicians know, that report, which was a very elaborate one, was drafted mainly by our present Governor. Ho was also chairman of the Departmental Committee of the Home Office in regard to Inebriate Heformatories. Tho question was a most important one, and legislation on tho report mado is about to bo carried through. One of tho most important commissions upon which, Lord Islington wai appointed was that bo inquire into and report upon tho. reorganisation of yeomanry. His experience obtained in tho Boer War, in which ho gained tho D.S.O. for gallantry in tire fiold, was invaluable to him in connection with this commission. Ho and Lord Dundonald, who had also been in the South African War, wrote a minority report recommending drastio changes, and mainly upon their recommendations tire British Yeomanry were converted into mounted riflemen, and compulsory camps wero established instead of tljo old system of billeting in. towns. Tha other members of ( tho commission, who woro in a majority, urged that tho new ideas formulated would lend to tho absolute extinction of tho yeomanry. Lord Islington's reply was that it would not matter even it this happened, becauso then they could build up a new and uioro effective force upon tho ashes of tho old.' That was oxactly what happened. Mr. Brodrick,. who was then Secretary for War, practically carried out tho minority report, which was a most unusual thing to do, and a great compliment to tho acu* men of tho two who had presented tho minority report.

Three Visits to India. Lord Islington will probably go direct, from Now Zealand to India. He will not,: however, bo going thcro as a.6trangor to • tho country, for he has already been - v three times to India. On ono visit ho raado a comprehensive trip along the north-western frontier, and into tho passes . leading to Afghanistan. On his last visit lie attended tho Durbar as tho guest of Lord Curzon. From what has been said it will bo seen that Lord Islington ia exceedingly well qualified to take chart;* of tho important work that has now been, put in his hands, and while New Zealand, as the Prime Minister has well said, will bo 6orry to lose his Excellency, tho people will bo* ploascd that so high an honour has beon conferred upon hmi.