The Evening Star SATURDAY, OCTOBER 5, 1940. NEW GOVERNOR-GENERAL.

Evening Star, Issue 23699, 5 October 1940, Page 10

The Evening Star SATURDAY, OCTOBER 5, 1940. NEW GOVERNOR-GENERAL.

Though in the past year the people of this country have been absorbed in the progress of the war to the exclusion of many normal events, considerable interest was taken in the appointment of a new Governor-General. Now an announcement has been made. The choice has fallen on a distinguished airman, in the person of Air Chief-Marshal Sir Cyril Newall. With the selection in 1920 of Viscount Jellicoe for the honourable post of King’s representative, a system was established that has given general satisfaction. Instead of selecting men on account of birth and social position with connections in influential political quarters in the Homeland, the Governors-General are chosen from- individuals who carry marks of distinction because of their life work, and are consequently able to give expert advice to the New Zealand Government on vital questions. The records of Lord Jellicoe and Sir Charles Fergusson in the Navy and the Army respectively made their appointments particularly acceptable when defence problems were under consideration, and the same thing can be said of Lord Bledisloe in relation to agriculture by reason of his wide knowledge of that industry. These three were notably successful in their work in New Zealand, and they endeared themselves to the people by their unostentatious friendliness. Lord Galway, the present occupant of the post, like Sir Charles Fergusson, repiesents the Army, and he fougat with distinction in the last war. He and Lady Galway have fulfilled their duties with dignity, and during their stay in the Dominion have readily answered the numerous cal's made <;a their time and energy. Tim pest of Governor-General is now made; easier by the creation of the oihce of High Commissioner for the United Kingdom in New Zealand, at p e.sent held by Sir Harry Batterbce, which re .’teres the Governor-General of many details that should he naturally outside the. gubernatorial function. The appointment of Sir Cyril Newall is a compliment to this Dominion, and at the same time it carries a deep eig-

nificance when the defence of the Pacific is so much under discussion. As we see to-day, the air arm has a vital part to play iu modern warfare, and its development in the next twentyfive years will probably be as marked as it has boon in the last quarter of a century. New Zealand and Australia are thus deeply concerned in the matter of air defence, and the help and advice of a man possessed of wide experience and organising ability, as in the case of Sir Cyril NewalJ, will be invaluable. The remarkable successes of the R.A.F. in the present war are a striking tribute to the organising abilities of the Dominion’s next Governor-General, and the action of the authorities at Home in sparing him for the post will be appreciated. Lord Galway, who agreed to stay at his post for an extra year on account of war complications, retires next February, and the good wishes of New Zealanders will be extended to him and to Lady Galway.