The Dominion. MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 1920. OUR NEW GOVERNORGENERAL

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 1, 27 September 1920, Page 4

The Dominion. MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 1920. OUR NEW GOVERNORGENERAL

Admiral Lohd Jellicoe was given a rousing welcome when he visited New Zealand ,111 tho course of his naval mission ' in' 1919. Without doubt ho will bo if anything even more heartily welcomed when he arrives in Wellington to-day to take up the office 01 Governor-General. It is felt universally that tho appointment of this able and distinguished Admiral as the Kino's representative in New Zealand is a Bignal honour done to the people of tho Dominion and a graceful recognition of the new status to which it has attained in the Imperial family, of nations. The appointment clearly marks a definite break from the practice hitherto much in vogue under which men of no great capacity have often been appointed to represent the Kino in tho Dominions merely on the score of political service, or even of birth and social influence. It will be a good thing for the Empire if the precedent set in Lohd Jelmcoe's selection as Governor-General _ of New Zealand is as far as possible maintained. Admittedly this will not be easy, nor will it always be possible. As its people will readily recognise, this little Dominion on the confines of the Empire has good reason for pride and gratification in being ■enabled to welcome as its GovernorGeneral tho great and distinguished Admiral who commanded the Grand Fleet from the outbreak of war until tho Allied mastery of the Beaa had been confirmed; and since, as First Sea Lord and in other capacities, has demonstrated- that tasks of statesmanship are as well within his compass as duties of naval command. While his record is illustrious, it is an additional cause for congratulation that Lord Jellicoe is coming to this country not as one whose active days are over, but, from the standpoint of statesmanship, in tho prime of life and in tho plenitude of his powers. The office of Governor-General is hedged about with constitutional limitations, but in view of the qualities of which ho has given such splendid proof, and linked as he already is in bonds of sympathy and affection with tho people of the Dominion, it cannot be doubted that Lord Jellicoe will exert a stimulating and inspiring influence as his term extends.

One quality with which our new Governor-General is unquestionably gifted in a high degree is adaptability. At the time when, ho was wholly absorbed in the task of maintaining the naval stranglehold on the Central Empires, which contributed so largely to Allied victory, ho was often pictured as ono whoso whole outlook and personality were bounded by the exacting but specialised duties of naval command —as "the ideal _ of cool technical efficiency," but in other respects a man of "barbarian shyness" and insensibility. It was even written of him that his long career as a bluewater sailor and the- laborious devotion with which he had concentrated on the technique of bis profession had "bereft him of personality _ and left him a glorified machinist." Though they were no doubt based to some extent on knowledge and observation of Lord Jkllicoe's career it is now' plain to all that these comments were very far from doing justice- to his character and the powers with which ho is endowed. In actual fact with broadening duties Lord Jeli.icoe has discovered previously unsuspected powers and a great man's gift of adaptability. His reports on naval policy bear witness to a broad and statesmanlike grasp of great problems and to an outlook far removed indeed from that of "a glorified machinist." Shy and somewhat grim in manner he may be, but ho is capable also of pleasantly unbending. No one who heard him describo to an audience of New Zealand people the adventures and achievements of their ship—the battle-cruiser New Zealand—would venture- to accuse him of being wanting in warm human sympathy. That bo is littlo given to effusion certainly, will not lesson his popularity with the New Zealand democracy. Before he left I London, Lord Jelmcoe spoko of jthe pleasure with which be looked for-

ward to his term in New Zealand, find said ho felt that Lady Jellicoe itnd ho wore going to a land and a people they loved. Undoubtedly Lokd andLApy Jellicoe will find these sentiments very heartily reciprocated from one end of tho Dominion to tho other.