THE NEW GOVERNORGENERAL

Evening Post, Volume CXXX, Issue 85, 7 October 1940, Page 6

THE NEW GOVERNORGENERAL

ll has long been felt in most quarters that New Zealand's greatest and most immediate contribution to the war effort of the Empire lias been through the personnel she has given to the Royal Air Force in its terrific struggle to defend Britain and strike at the heart of the enemy. New Zealanders will like to think that the appointment of Air Chief Marshal Sir Cyril Newall as Gover-nor-General of this Dominion,- to succeed Viscount Galway, can be taken as a recognition of what New Zealand has done and is doing in this sphere of Empire defence. However that may be, no compliment could be higher, for Sir Cyril, as Chief of the British Air Staff, is held in the highest repute as the man who played a leading part in creating an Air Force which has won the admiration of the world and is steadily growing in effective strength. The lines of development in the R.A.F. being now firmly established, Sir Cyril could look forward to a wellearned respite from his strenuous activities of the last few years, but he floes not so regard his new appointment. In an interview, reported by cable today, he says:

I am eager lor cJose association with the delence forces, particuku?y the Air

Force, and desire to study the defence problems at first hand, though my work on the Chief of Staffs Committee has given me an insight into the defence of the Empire as a whole.

In view of all the conditions of war and its uncertainties and New Zealand's special problems the presence of so distinguished a Chief of the Air Arm in the capacity of GovernorGeneral will be doubly welcome.