PERSONAL NOTES FROM LONDON.

Press, Volume LXV, Issue 19786, 26 November 1929, Page 4

PERSONAL NOTES FROM LONDON.

(fro a oua own coebespoxdent.) LONDON, October 18. It has been learned officially that Mr Hugh Lloyd Thomas, of the Foreign Office, has been appointed assistant private secretary to the Prince of Wales. Mr Thomas succeeds Mr J. H.» E. Woods, who was seconded from the Treasury to act as temporary secretary to the Prince during the last six , months. Mr Woods has left York House, and is taking up work in connexion with the Dominions Legislation Conference in London. Mr Hugh Lloyd Thomas is the eldest son of Mr W. Lloyd Thomas, of Tredillian Park, Abergavenny. Educated at Eton College and New College, Oxford, he has been in the Diplomatic Service since 1913. He was made a first secretary in 1920, and has served in Constantinople, Cairo, and Rome. From 1924 to 1929 he was assistant private secretary to Sir Austen Chamberlain at the Foreign Office. "The Times" of to-day gives prominence to the accompanying announcement: —Sir James Parr, High Commissioner for New Zealand, whose term of office expired in July, has been requested by the New Zealand Government to remain as High Commissioner until January next, and has been appointed to represent New Zealand at the sittings of the Permanent Mandates Commission at Geneva in November, when the affairs of Samoa, the New Zealand Mandated Territory, will be investigated. Sir James Parr has also been appointed to represent the New Zealand Government at the Dominions Confer2nce on Legislation and Merchant Shipping, which begins next week. The High Commissioner has accepted an extension of his term accordingly. The following changes in the flag list are notified by the Admiralty:—RearAdmiral H. P. Douglas, C.8., C.M.G., placed on the Retired List, at his own request, October Ist; Captain G. A. Wells, A.D.C., to be Rear-Admiral October Ist. The promotion of Captain Wells leaves Captain C. T. C. P. Swabey, D.5.0., senior of the officers of his rank. Captain Dudley B. N. North, C.S:L, C.M.G., C.V.0., who has commanded the battle-cruiser Tiger since May last, will receive a new appointment in the New Year. He is to succeed Captain P. L. H. Noble, C.T.0., as Director of the Operation Division of the Naval Staff. Captain North is an Extra Equerry to the Prince of Wales, whom he accompanied on his various Empire tours. He was First-Lieutenant of the battlecruiser New Zealand in the Heligoland action, and commander of that vessel at the Dogger Bank and the Battle of Jutland. For his services on the latter occasion he was commanded. The new commanding officer of the Tiger will be Captain A. E. F. Bedford, who at present holds the post of Commodore in command of the R.N. Barracks, Devonport. This last appointment will be taken over on January Ist, 1930, by Captain N. F Laurence, D.5.0., the present chief executive officer of the aircraft carrier "Worder to extend the scope of the Roval Empire Society in In £t*£* Malava Commander R. M. Reynolds has left London to make an extensive tour of these countries, and he hopes to be awav for six months. During his travels 'Commander Reynolds will address Rotary Clubs, chambers of commerce and similar associations in. all the principal Indian centres. Mr <=ehvvn H. Beckett has reached England to'take up the course of architecture offered by the Liverpool TJmversitv. He will probably be absent }* om "the Dominion for about four v ea ™ Lis time being spent m the Mother Country, America, and the (Christchureh) has ■ »a 'in Birmingham to join the staff TIS BrKh Genera] Electric Com--01 ln - Mr c m ith was awarded the ComExhibition at Canterbury ColIZ\ "ana hopes to stay in Birmingham for a lengthy period.