STATE PREMIER NOW GOVERNOR-GENERAL

Rotorua Morning Post, Issue 5318, 3 February 1947, Page 5

STATE PREMIER NOW GOVERNOR-GENERAL

( Press Assn-

^ "POLITICAL . JOBBlvRY" severe criticism of appointment

-Rec. 9.30 p.m.)

CANBERRA, Feb. 2."The "King, on the reconimendation of His Majesty's Goverriment in Australia, has been graciously pleased to approve the appointment of the Honourable W. J. McKell as GovernorGeneral of the Commonwealth in succession to His Royal Highness the Duke of Gloucester," savs an official announcement from Buckingham Palace. The Prime Minister, Mr. Chifley, said : "I congratulate Mr. McKell on his appointment. I feel completely confident that he will discharge the duties of his higli office with ability and dignity. Mr. McKell's appointment follows the precedent established in Australia and South Africa by which distinguished public service of native-born citizens has been recognised," "It is a shocking and humiliating anpointment," said the Leader of the Opposition, Mr. Menzies, commenting on Mr. McKell's appointment. "It constitutes the most deplorable ihcident in the Governnient's growing record of political jobbery. One i? forced to the conclusion that it is expressly designed to lower the Governor-Generalship in significance and esteem and so weaken our vital connection with Britain and with the British Crown. No Title Likely "As I indicated in Parliament on 1 ehalf of the Opposition,' the objection which we take to the appointment of a Labour Premier of New South Wales is not based upon the view that Australians are automaticrlly disqualified from Vice-Regal office. On the contrary, we think that there. are undoubtedly Australians of high attainments and repute well fitted to be His Majesty's representatives in various parts of the British Empire. But the appointment by his own party of an active party political leader to the office of Governcr-General converts the Governor-Generalship into a mere political plum." No title is likely to be bestowed on Mr. McKell. The Governnient's policy is to make recommendations for operational service only. The date of the swearing-in ceremony has not yet been fixed. Mr. McKell is the second Australian-' born Governor-General of Australia, the other being Sir Isaac Isaacs. He will probably be appc-inted for five years — the customary term, Mr. McKell was first mentioned as successor to the Duke of Gloucester in November. The rumours persisted, although they received"no official confirmation. Former Cabinet Posts Born on September 26, 1891, in Pambula, New South Wales, he began, his career as a boilermaker but studied law and was called to th6 Bar in 1925. Two years ago he was created K.C. A Labour member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly for Redfern §ince 1917, he has been Minister for Justice 192022, Minister for Justice and Assistant Treasurer, 1925-27, Minister for Local Government, 1930-31, and again Minister f'or Justice 1931-32. Since May, 1941, he has been Premier and Colo-nial Treasurer of the New South Wales State Government. In 1945 he visited Britain. There he said : "It is a Labour Government that will build up Australia's postwar system. All over the British Commonwealth, before long, the future will be in Labour's hands."