The New Governor-General

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 924, 18 March 1930, Page 8

The New Governor-General

Lord Bledisloe, Barrister, Politician, Agriculturist and Keen Sportsman Arrives in Wellington Today.

UNUSUAL interest will be attached to the arrival of the Rangitiki at Wellington today. On board the vessel is the Right Honourable Baron Bledisloe, K.8.E., GovernorGeneral of New Zealand, and Lady Bledisloe. With the appointment of Lord Bledisloe, New Zealand gets is second farmer Governor-General. The Earl of Liverpool, the Dominion’s first Governor-General, was also a farmer. Following his term of office, a sailor and then a soldier were the personal representatives of the Sovereign in this far-flung corner of the Empire.

A practical farmer, Lord Bledisloe lias gained the reputation of being one of Great Britain’s most noted agriculturists. Not only on his own broadacres in England, but also abroad he has made a close study of agriculture. In Gloucestershire the new Gover-nor-General maintained personal supervision over six farms and the operating of a cheese factory, which is supplied with milk from his own estate. In the County of Wiltshire is another fram of 2,500 acres. A bacon factory, maintained by 2,000 pigs kept on one farm is also Included in his agricultural operations, Lord Bledisloe being a noted expert on modern pig-breeding. Of medium height and athletic build the new Governor-General has been described as a fine type of country gentleman. He plays golf arid is a keen sportsman. To meet he is said to be very direct, practical, business-like and courteous. Although his activities, are concerned mostly with agriculture he is a man of wide interests. At Oxford he gained his M.A. degree, and he was called to the Bar at the Middle Temple in 1594, practising for 16 years as a Chancery barrister and conveyancer. Lord Bledisloe, who is the first baron, was born in 1867 and was educated at Sherbone School, Eton, the Royal Agricultural College at Cirencester, and Oxford. As Captain Bathurst he was Conservative M.P. for South Wilts from 1910 to 191 S. He was knighted, and in 1918 was created Baron Bledisloe, of Lydney Park, Gloucestershire, after he had served through the war as Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food, then as chairman of the Royal Commission on the Sugar Supply, and finally Director of Sugar Distribution. He also organised the Government Land Settlement Scheme for ex-servicemen. Lord Bledisloe’s family goes back to Benjamin Bathurst, a member of

the House of Commons of 1713, who was the younger brother of the first Earl Bathurst. Lydney Park, one of the family seats, came into the possession of Benjamin Bathurst in exchange for his paternal estate of Battlesden, County Bedford. Teffont Grange, near Salisbury, is another very beautiful estate held by the Bledisloe family. Lord Bledisloe has been twice married. His first wife, who was the Hon. Bertha Susan Lopes, daughter of the first Lord Ludlow, died in 1926 The present Lady Bledisloe was the Hon. Mrs. Alina Kate Elaine CooperSmith, second daughter of the late Lord Glantawa. By his first marriage, Lord Bledisloe has three children, the heir being the Hon. Benjamin Ludlow Bathurst, who is 30 years of age. Possessing a very charming personality Lady Bledisloe should fill with distinction the position of the First Lady of the Dominion. She has travelled extensively, and is noted for her philanthropic work. Her portrait was included in “Types of English Beauty”—a volume published in London in 1920. When Lord Bledisloe is sworn-in on the steps of the main entrance of parliament House he will become New Zealand’s fourth Governor-General, an ofiice that carries with it a salary of £7,500 per annum. The Earl of Liverpool, whose term of office extended from December, 1912, to July, 1920, was the first to be designated by the more exalted title. Then followed Lord Jellicoe from September. 1920, to November, 1924. and Sir Charles Fergusson from December, 1924, until February, 1930. On landing from the Rangitiki Lord Bledisloe will be welcomed by the chairman and members of the Wellington Harbour Board, after which he will proceed to Government House breaking the journey at the Town Hall to be received by the Mayor and City Council at the portico. A public wel come will be accorded their Excellencies at the Wellington Town Hall on Thursday night, when the speakers will include the Chief Justice, Sir Michael Myers, who is at present the Administrator, and the Hon. G. W. Forbes, representing the Prime Minis ter.