DUKE OF WINDSOR

Wairarapa Times-Age, 11 July 1940, Page 7

DUKE OF WINDSOR

4 APPOINTMENT AS GOVERNOR OF BAHAMAS. REQUEST MADE TO KING FOR EMPLOYMENT. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright I LONDON. July 10. The “Daily Mail” says the Duke of Windsor's appointment as Governor and Commander-in-Chief of the Bahama Islands followed the Duke’s personal request to his Majesty for employment. It is reported from New York that the Press features the appointment of the Duke of Windsor with an eightcolumn two-line banner. All papers carry front-page stories. The people of the Bahamas are jubilant over the appointment. Tremendous tourist possibilities are seen.

In a broadcast commentary from London on the appointment, Mr Vernon Bartleet, M.P.. said that the mass of the people in England remembered the Duke for his services during and after the last war. and wished him well. His position had become rather difficult since that part of Europe in which he preferred to live had come under Nazi control, and they had used his name in their propaganda. “Opinion here is that nothing more becomes him than his readiness as a soldier to obey orders.” said Mr Bartleet. “A vacancy occurred for an officer of his rank, and he accepted it at once as an officer."

The Government of the Bahama group—an archipelago of the British West Indies, consisting of about 20 inhabited islands, comprising an area of about 4375 square miles, and having a population in 1937 of 67,000 —is vested in a Governor, aided by an Executive Council of nine members, a nominated

Legislative Council of nine members, and an elective Representative Assembly of 29 members. The capital is Nassau. It was announced last week that the former Governor, Sir Charles Dundas, has been appointed Governor and Commander-in-Chief of the Uganda Protectorate. The emolument of the Governor of the Bahamas is £3OOO a year.