NEW GOVERNOR.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 273, 17 November 1936, Page 7

NEW GOVERNOR.

FOR SOUTH AFRICA. Scottish-Born Cabinet Member Selected. SUCCEED EARL OF CLARENDON. United Press Association.—Copyright. (Received 12.30 p.m.) LOXDON, November 16. It is notified that Mr. Patrick Duncan, C.M.G., M.V.0., K.C., will succeed the Earl of Clarendon as Governor-General of South Africa. Mr. Duncan has been Minister of Mines in the South African Cabinet since 1933 and had previously held a number of Ministerial posts. Mr. Patrick Duncan was born in Banffshire, Scotland, in 1870, was educated at j Oxford and entered the Civil Service in j 1894, when he was appointed to the Inland Kevenue Department. At that time the head of the Department was Sir A. Milner (later Lord Milner), who later became High Commissioner for South Africa. When British troops had occupied the Transvaal and the Orange Free State Lord Milner showed his interest in the younger men of his former department by sending to England for some of them to help in the building up of new administrations in those regions. Duncan was among those selected. His quiet and conscientious manner had impressed Milner, and when •he arrived in South Africa he served as the High Commissioner's secretary. His ability was apparent, and in a few months •he was made treasurer of the Transvaal. From 1903 to 1906 he was Colonial Secretary, and was awarded the C.M.G. In the meantime he had studied law, and become a barrister of the Inner Temple and an advocate of the Supreme Court of South Africa, eventually being created a K.C. He took a close interest in political problems alter the South African War, and supported General Smuts, who, though he had fought against the British, held that it wag necessary to work for conciliation. Mr. Duncan was elected to the Union Parliament, and from 1921 to 1924 served as Minister of the Interior. Some years ago he was Acting LieutenantGovernor of the Union. v