OUR GOVERNOR-GENERAL DESIGNATE.

Wairarapa Times-Age, 8 October 1940, Page 4

OUR GOVERNOR-GENERAL DESIGNATE.

A NUMBER of men of outstanding eminence have at one time or another filled the post of Governor-General of New Zealand and the standards thus set will be well maintained when Sir Cyril Newall, Marshal of the Royal Air Force, takes up the duty of representing the King in this country. The appointment may be regarded as one which pays due regard to the part New Zealand takes and will continue to take in the evolving life and organisation of the Empire. While he has shown himself to be well endowed with the primary qualities of character and ability that are demanded in the Governor-General of a British Dominion, Sir Cyril Newall at the same time has pursued with great distinction a highly-specialised career. ' Having been associated with the Royal Air Force virtually since its inception, he has not only seen it achieve the great position it holds as one of the most vital elements in the fighting strength of the Empire, but has himself done much to direct and control the development which has made that achievement possible, and inevitable. As Chief of the British Air Staff during the last three years, he has his full share of responsibility for the state of organisation and preparation in which the Air Force entered the war and for the magnificent standards it has set in every theatre of war in which, it has been engaged. Sir Cyril Newall is laying down his command at a time when the superiority of the Royal Air Force over its enemies in fighting power is plain to all the world. The facts are written large, alike in the valiant and successful defence of Britain against all that the Luftwaffe has been able to attempt, in the smashing of the enemy’s invasion preparations in the Channel ports, and in the “vast web of destruction,” as one of yesterday’s cablegrams called it, which has been woven by British bombers broad across the face of Germany and in her bases in occupied territories. The Air Force is still far from being at its peak of numerical strength of men and machines, but in its quality and fighting power there is living witness that nothing has been lost of the finest characteristics of courage, skill and hardihood the British race has ever possessed. The glorious achievements of the Air Force of course are only made possible by teamwork on the grand scale, in which not only valiant airmen, including those of Allied nations, but builders and designers of aeroplanes, members of ground staffs, working men and women in factories and many others have their important parts to play. Io Sir Cyril Newall belongs, however, the honour and distinction of having had no small part in building up the Air Force, and of having commanded and directed it wisely and well, and in a manner worthy of its quality, in the tremendous scale of striking power it has now attained. In speaking of the pleasure with which he is looking forward to meeting the people of New Zealand, Sir Cyril Newall has said that he is also eager for close association with the defence forces, particularly the Air Force and desires to study defence problems at first hand. It may be believed that the counsel of this distinguished and experienced air commander will be of great and illuminating value to the people of tiro Dominion not only in their continuation of the eflort to which they are committed in this war, but in their approach to the development of aviation, whether for peace or for defence and security, as time goes on.