Sir Denis Blundell to be Governor

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32636, 18 June 1971, Page 1

Sir Denis Blundell to be Governor

GVew Zealand Press Association)

WELLINGTON, June 17. New Zealand’s next Governor-General will be ;Sir Denis Blundell, at present High Commissioner in London. He will be only the second New Zealander to hold the post. ,

Sir Arthur Porritt is the first and he will be succeeded in September, 1972, by Sir Denis Blundell. The announcement was made from Buckingham Palace tonight.

Sir Denis Blundell recently had his term as High Commissioner extended by a year.

The Prime Minister (Sir Keith Holyoake) said tonight that the choice of Sir Edward Denis Blundell, K.8.E., as the Queen’s representative in New Zealand would give to all New Zealanders "the same degree of warm satisfaction that it gives the Government.

“Sir Denis Blundell has demonstrated in the conduct of his present office as High Commissioner for New Zealand in London and by his earlier achievements, that in this new capacity he can be expected to maintain the high tradition set by his distinguished predecessors,” Sir Keith Holyoake said.

“The family of the Gover-nor-General-designate have roots which go deep into the history of New Zealand. They have made a notable contribution to its development, particularly in the field of newspaper publishing. Sir Denis Blundell himself has already added much to his family record. “After his secondary education at Wellington College and Waitaki Boys’ High School he received his university education in Britain and was admitted to the Bar there. He then returned to New Zealand to become, in the course of time, one of the leading members of the

legal profession in this country. “He was president of the New Zealand Law Society for several years. His record of service during World War H, during which he rose to command the 23rd New Zealand Battalion, was a distinguished one.

Part in cricket “In other fields of community activity he has also played a valuable part. In sport, particularly in cricket, he has been prominent as a player and as an administrator. In charitable work, as president of Birthright from its beginnings, he gave freely of his time and energy. “In many areas of public service, and especially as chairman of the Air Services Licensing Authority from 1952 to 1962 and later as chairman of the Royal Commission on Parliamentary Salaries, bis contributions have been generous and effective.

cellent choice. In all his professional and public life Sir Denis has been admirably supported by Lady Blundell, who was bom in Wellington, was educated at Marsden Collegiate School and qualified as a nurse at Wellington Public Hospital." The Prime 'Minister said

that because his visit to London in May had provided the opportunity for him to speak to the Queen and to Sir Denis Blundell, the formalities associated with the appointment of a new Gov-ernor-General had been completed somewhat sooner than normal. By arrangement between the Government and the present Governor-General, and with the approval of the Queen, Sir Arthur Porritt would relinquish his office a few weeks before his term expired, thus enabling the change to take place before the period when a General Election would normally be held.

“Sir Denis Blundell’s wide The picture shows Sir range of interests and his Denis Blundell and Lady identification with so many Blundell at a reception at aspects of our national life New Zealand House, Lonwill commend him as an ex- don.