ROYAL GOVERNOR.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 64, Issue 31, 16 November 1943, Page 4

ROYAL GOVERNOR.

POPULAR APPOINTMENT. SYMBOL OF EMPIRE UNjTY. (Rec. 12.50) SYDNEY, This Day. . “Australians will be deeply appreciative of his Majesty’s action in. appointing a member of the Royal family to he Governor-General of Australia, said the Prime Minister (Mr J. Curtin) making the announcement of the appointment of the Duke of Gloucester. “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 Governor-General in 1939, but did not take up his duties because of the war. lie 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. Any indication of the date when the Duke is likely to arrive in Australia cannot 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 a centre and symbol of Empire- unity. “Nor will it be overlooked," says the paper, “that, an Australian Labour Ministry, despite the traditional party pre-delietions for a native-born appointee, should have sponsored the proposal for a Royal viceregent. These are signs of the times —ties of great peril and great stress —in which the peoples of the British Commonwealth of Nations have instinctively clrnw’n still nearer together.”