A CITIZENS' GOVERNOR.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 141, 23 September 1910, Page 4

A CITIZENS' GOVERNOR.

It has never been the fashion in New Zealand for the King's direct representative to know the people. He has, as a general habit, condescended to tbi personages, but to the people who supported the personages—nothing. Lord Islington is, (happily enough, going to alter all this. It "is even desirable that in his democratic endeavors he will "sit on" the extraordinary system that still prevails in this country of rnaking the general public "stand off the grass" while the favored few air their "bell-toppers" and imbibe State-paid champagne. These class functions have 'been too common in the past. But here arrives a Governor who says in effect, "Let 'em all come!" Lord Islington seems almost as democratic as his master, King George,, or that Prince of the People, King Edward. Wellington's Mayor is, taken into the confidence of. the Governor, who tells him that he wants the People as well as the Persons at Government House. The new Governor broke the ice gently by inviting mere farmers to meet him in their everyday clothes. Lord Islington is not to ba highly commended for this precedent, but he is to be admired for his sanity in recognising the Man who Made the Country. There is no reason on earth why the Governor should not meet evwytodj. lUs Guvernw iocs aot uim-

Iy represent the King for the sake of bank managers or judges, members of Parliament or landed persons. He represents King George to the man who mows his lawn, and the person who (ills the ■.lust cart, and the gentleman who supplies sausages, and the citizen who grows turnips. And, therefore, ho being sane tells Mr. Wilford that Government House is not exclusive, that he will entertain the people, that he would like tramcars to run cheaply so that everybody may get there in time for the opening chorus, tlhat he wants to extend the scope of Government House functions so that they won't be offended if someone drops an ''h" or forgets his crush hat, or can't afford "decollete" or dress shoes. Almost it makes one wonder if new Governors have not received special- instructions about the?e democratic matters. The recognition that the Empire was made by the Man With His Coat Off is a little tardy, but none the less pleasing. The business of kow-tow is belittling to any country, and it is to be hoped that the Governor's idea of democratising the community may spread out of Wellington and induce the great rajahs of the country to climb down and be just orlinary, everyday people. It is worth while remembering in this connection that only a month or two ago the vrouws of the eminent Dutchmen who run South Africa laughed heartily when Lady Gladstone issued an order that they must "curtsey" to her. But neither Herbert Gladstone nor her ladyship had half as much influence in moulding the destinies of South Africa as the plainest of those vrouws who wouldn't "curtsev."