THE GOVERNOR'S DEPARTURE

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 60, 29 July 1912, Page 4

THE GOVERNOR'S DEPARTURE

LOED ISLINGTON'S WORK ON A PREVIOUS COMMISSION. Sir John Dickson-Poynder, first Baron Islington, was raised to the peerage 01 his appointment to the Governorship of the Dominion of New Zealand in April, 1910J in succession to Lord Plunket. Lord Islington is the son of the lat« Rear-Admiral J. B. Dickson, and wai born in IgOO, and educated at Harrow and Christ Church. He succeeded ha, uncle, Sir Alexander Collingwood Dickeon as sixth baronet in 1884, and, in 1888, oh coming into the estate of his maternal uncle, assumed, by Royal license, the additional name of Poynder. From 1892 until January, 11)10, he represented th« Chippenham Division of Wiltshire in the House of Commons, and served on th« London County Council from 1898 t» 1904. He was a Moderate in Municipal politics, and a Conservative in the earliei part of his Parliamentary career. HitFree Trade convictions led to his severance from his party, and in 1908 he was elected for his old division in the Liberal interest. In 1909 he was appointed a member of the Commission designated, under the chairmanship of Lord Ralfouj of Burleigh, to investigate the trade relations between Canada and the West Indies. Lord Islington also serred ia the Wiltshire Yeomanry, and in 190* went to South Africa on Lord Methuen's staff, being awarded the Distinguished Service Order for gallantry in the field during the war. He married in 1896, Annie, third daughter of Mr. H. R. Dundas, of Scotland, and has one daughter,. the Hon. Joan Dickson-Poynder.

During his short period of vice-regal responsibility 33 Governor of New Zen- 1 " land, Lord Islington has taken a kindly interest in the people of the Dominion generally, and shown himself to be a kee« observer of agricultural and pastoral pursuits. The dsvelopment of the compulsory military training scheme in thin country has also attracted his interested; attention, as was evinced by his regular visits to the Territorial training camps.

INDIAN CIVIL SERVICE. SCOPE OF PROPOSED 'COMMISSION. A GENERAL OVERHAUL. The London correspondent of the Manchester Guardian, on May 30, foreshadowed the appointment of the Royal Commission, mentioned in the cable Ho said:—

"It is rumored that the Governjnenl intend to appoint jv Royal Commission oa the Indian Civil Service similar in scopa to the body now reviewing the method* of appointment and tenure obtaining in the home service. I mentioned some day* ago that the minor officials in the India Office, and particularly the Second Division clerks, were apprehensive that th» relief which the Civil Service Commission is expected to bring to the lowo* branches of the Civil Service would not extend to them. An answer by Mr. Lloyd George on behalf of the Prime Minister in the House of Commons seemed to confirm this fear, and enquiry has shown that the practical difficulties of including the Indian Civil Service within the terms of reference of the present Royal Commission will render that course impracticable. Mr. MacCalhim Scott's question was not intended' to refer to the Indian Government Departments, but simply to the India Office here, and as the whole of th o Indian service is now to be enquired into tho Department in Whitehall will receive the attention of the second Commission. The India Office is often recruited from the other public departments so far as the lower officials are concerned, and as this system of transfer is not likely to be disturbed by the Royal Commission on the Civil Service it is desirable that themethods of appointment in the India Office should be assimilated to those which will hereafter be imposed upon the home service. It is said that the Indian Commission will reveal many interesting varieties of appointment which have long flourished in that part of the Empire.'*