FIRST GOVERNORGENERAL.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 9638, 2 November 1909, Page 6

FIRST GOVERNORGENERAL.

f'AN APPALLING PROSPECT."

The Johnanneaburg "Star," in an editorial, stated recently in reference to the first Governor-General oi South Africa, that "Judging from every recent indication. Lord Selborne's chances of becoming the first Uovernor-General of South Africa have already gone out to ten to one, and might be quoted at much lunger odds, if there was a larger number of probable starters. A significant sign of the way things are going is the open canvassing tor the name of Lord Selburne's successor in England, and more significant still among the country folk of South Africa, wl:o aeem to have a very shrewd impression already of certain candidates, who can hardly even have been a name to them a few weeks back. We hope for their own sakes, that it is not true, as rumour alleges, that the South African Ministers in London have let it be known in "high quarters" that Lord Selbourne's reappointment would be unacceptable to v "their people." It would certainly be rank ingratitude for years of studious impartiality in office and constant first band study of the ways and wishes of the country population, but in any case, omens are clear enough, and it is high time to survey the list of successors who have been "mentined" for the office of the first Go-vernor-General. There is in the first place an old friend in Sir West Ridgeway, who is understood to harbour the delusion that the Liberal party intend to liquidate the debt which they undoubtedly owe him for the Eidgeway report. After Sir West Eidgeway comes a small and select procession of Liberal peers with "aspirations," .any of whom may conceivably be chosen. The names are mentioned of Lord 3 Beauchamp, Granard, and Pentland. Danger, however, which threatens from tne Lords sinks into compfiralive insignificance by the side of the truly appalling prospect which is offered by *he Commons, when Mr Winston Churchill's name was first put forward as a possible Governor-Genera! of South Africa. The news was rot unnaturally treated a a peculiarly

fatuous jest on the part of a crazy correspondent But now Mr Churchill, we are told, is again "in the running" for South Arfica, and we ventrue to warn our readers in all solemnity that, so far as Mr Churchill at any rate is concerned, this idea of appointment oversea is no mere harmless pleasantry, but a matter of Goher, deadly earnest. In any case, it is a tolerably open secret that he wants the place, and though we are inclined on the whole to believe that Mr Asquith and Lord Crewe retain sufficient sense of decency to shut tho door to this impudent pro ject, these are only frail human beings asfter all, and the temptation to be rid of Mr Churchill for five long years muse be almost irresistible. If South African opinion counts for anything, we may say at once that we believe that Mr Churchill's appointment would be regarded by both races, whose relations he has done so much to embitter, as nothing short of a hideous insult, and we hope that they will make their voices heard while there is yet time as emphatically and as sue.'essfully as the englishmen in India. 1