LORD BLEDISLOE

Hokitika Guardian, 24 January 1930, Page 7

LORD BLEDISLOE

APPRECIATIONS FROM FRIENDS. A MAN OF TACT AND SKILL. LONDON, December 10. Private and public appreciation regarding Lord Bledisloe, Governor-Gen-eral Designate for New Zealand, continues to be met with in ail directions. A well-known man, Sir John Russell, D.Sc., (Director of the Lawes Agricultural'Trust, Rothamsted Experimental Station), who has been closely associated in agricultural affairs with the Governor-General Designate, said to me:

“Of all our public men Lord Blodisloe is among the best known to funnels and one of the most popular, he having interested himself in agriculture Ircm the outset of his career. He farms on a large scale so that he is familiar with the practical problems of the day, and the difficulties the farmer has to meet. He lias the happy knack of getting on well with the men on the land, and always leaves a favourable impression behind. He has travelled a good deal and seen agriculture in other lands, getting right down to the practical details. “He is also interested in agricultural science, and when chairman of the Rothamsted Commitee, was a frequent visitor here; he knew all the staff and what they were doing. His interests, however, are wider than agricultural science, and extend to the universities and other great organisations dealing with the intellectual life of the day, He has wide Imperial sympathies and presided over the Imperial Agricultural Conference m 192/, when he was verv successful, alwas finevng ways of getting round difficulties as they rose.”

MAKING AND KEEPING FRIENDS

Again, an eminent- man and a friend of many years standing gives me the following appreciation : “I have known Lord Bledisloe for many years. He is a man or great personal charm with an ‘infinite capacity’ for making and keeping friends. It is unnecessary to write of his reputation as an authority on agriculture, of which he has made a life-long study, both from the practical point of view, and also front that of science and research. In this respect he is well known. Some years ago he was the chairman of an all-Empire Conference of agriculural and scientific experts, and in tin’s capacity won golden opinions from all who attended that gathering, not only for his general knowledge of, and sympathy with, the subjects discussed, hut also for the unequalled tact and skill with which he guided the deliberations of a not-too-easy assembly. “What may not perhaps be recognised so clearly are the high idealism and almost quixotic devotion -to public duty which have governed his whole life, and the immense and unwearying enthusiasm he invariably shows towards any cause which he believes for the general good, Regardless of his own personal interests and even his health. “Strictly speaking, I should not describe him as a ‘good Party man, for he is intellectually too honest not to • see both sides of a question, and he clan not therefore oppose merely for opposition’s sake.’’

| SPORT AND GAMES. Lord Bledisloe has the average Eng- ! lishman’s interest in games. He has not had much time for golf in recent year, but he hopes to play a little in New Zealand. In his early days he was a fair cricketer, and he takes a great interest now both in cricket and football. He has done some angling, and his interest in this is strong enough to lead him to give some attention to laying in a stock of rods and tackle. Naturally, lie hopes to have an opportunity of fishing some of the well-flnown streams of the Dominion, Whether lie will be persuaded to grapple with the swordfish has yet to be seen. Finally, he is quite a gojtid shot. This, of course, means with the shot. gun. He has not done any rifle shooting, and the deer-stalking of New Zealand would be rather a new type of sport for him. Lord and Lady Bledisloe have booked their passages by the Rangitiki. The vessel sails from Southampton on February 14th, and is due to arrive at Auckland on March 19tli. Major Bathurst (Military Secretary) and Si'.' John Ludlow Hanliam (Am©-de-Camp), and a household staff will prrjede the Governor-General hv a fortnight. Passages have been reserved on the Corinthic, sailing from Southampton on January 31st.