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Hokitika Guardian, 3 May 1930, Page 4

The question of the appointment of Colonial Governors appears to hav< been raised by the Federal Ministry of the Commonwealth in respect to the appointment of a Governor-General for Australia. Mr Seullin's Government has made a recommendation, and the choice lias leaked out, which is rather disconoenLing all round. The clirtice rests nominally with His Majesty the King, whose direct representative the Govirnor-Gcmeral is No doidit the King is prepared to consider suggestions and does as regards his choice, but it is most impolitic that any suggestions should he breathed publicly iin advance. In the Australian instance, the Federal Government ap-

pears to brave sugges&d the Chief justice who is the usual deputy when the office is vacant temporarily. In tne Australian case, the Chief Justice is very aged, and it appears if a thoioughly “colonial” choice is to be made some one more active might tie suggested. B-o ...at as it may, the ma.or point is, is Australia prepared “to cut tiie ’painter,” as it were, and depart from former usage in leaving the choice really to the sovereign? We should say that as far as New Zealand is comerned, the people would desire heartily (hat the choice and appointment of his Dominion representative nere should come directly from the King. There has been 1.0 occasion to desire, otherwise. Very .happy indeed has been the choice for New Zealand, one popular appointment following another, despite the success and popularity of tne predeessor. It is evident Britain is not bankrupt in great Englishmen, for the experien.e of this country is altogether a happy oile, and uniform greatness has been demonstrated by each successive holder or. the high office. The development in Australia in this matter appears to bring the Commonwealtn into rather unenviable notoriety just- at a time when the country needs all the support and friendship from overseas, which it can enjoy. If the action is to be interpreted as a -desire “to cut the painter,” Australian interests must wane seriously, in many quarters, and even the humour .of the Australian cartoonist will, not aid the restoration of the peoples'equanimity. The step by Mr Scullin'.? Ministry appears to be in- the wrong direction at a very inopportune time, so that the actiqn is really doubly culpable. It is to be hoped, however, there will be a happy issue from the difficulty that ms arisen, and that all will yet bt well so far as intimate relations with the Motherland are concerned.