PRECEDENT SET

Wairarapa Times-Age, 16 November 1943, Page 4

PRECEDENT SET

IN APPOINTMENT OF DUKE OF GLOUCESTER AS GOVERNOR-GENERAL OF AUSTRALIA. ■ Appreciation of the king’s action. (By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright) (Received This Day, 12.50 p.m.) SYDNEY, This Day. The Duke of Gloucester, the King’s younger brother, whose appointment as Governor-General of Australia in succession to Lord Gowrie, is reported in an earlier message, will be the first brother of a reigning King to serve as Governor-General in any Dominion. Lord Gowrie has been Gov-ernor-General of Australia since ~ 1936. “Australians will be deeply appreciative of his Majesty’s action in appointing a member of the Royal Family to be Governor-General of Australia,” said the Federal Premier, Mr Curtin, in making the announcement. “All in this country will look forward with affectionate and loyal interest to the arrival again in Australia of his Royal Highness.” The Duke of Gloucester visited Australia and New Zealand in 1934. His brother, the late Duke of Kent, was appointed Commonwealth GovernorGeneral in 1939, but did not take up his duties because of the war. He was killed in an aircraft crash last year. The official statement does not indicate whether the Duchess of Gloucester will arrive in Australia with the Duke. However it is assumed that she will

come to Australia, though the dangers of war time travel may prevent her arrival with the Duke. An indication of the date when the Duke is likely to arrive in Australia cannot yet be given, as the release of such information would obviously increase the risks of his journey. Negotiations for the Duke’s appointment have been in progress since just after the Federal elections in August. Mr Curtin’s announcement has been hailed with the greatest enthusiasm. The “Sydney Morning Herald” today says editorially that the Duke’s appointment gives immense gratification to the people of Australia and reaffirms the supreme importance of the Crown as the centre and symbol of Empire unity. “Nor will it be overlooked.” adds the paper, ’’that an Australian, Labour Ministry, despite the traditional party predelictions for a native-born appointee, should have sponsored the proposal for a Royal vice-regent. These are signs of the times times of great peril and great stress—in which the peoples of the British Commonwealth of Nations have instinctively drawn still nearer together.”