The Queen’s man in N.Z.; but Sir David has no time for any ‘Royal airs’

Press, 19 November 1982, Page 21

The Queen’s man in N.Z.; but Sir David has no time for any ‘Royal airs’

By

KEN COATES

The office of GovernorGeneral in New Zealand has had its share of stuffed shirts, but there is no precious pomposity about Sir David Beattie.

"In no way would my wife and I want to put on Royal airs — if there is such an expression,” he said in a relaxed interview during his recent visit to Christchurch.

He and Lady Beattie were taking a brief break between engagements in their 13thfloor suite in Noah's Hotel. The suite doubled as a viceregal residence, complete with red velvet in the lift, uniformed aide, staff along the corridor, and chauffeured limousine in the hotel car park. Sir David happens to be an outgoing, genial individual who likes meeting people. He also maintains the dignity of office as the Queen’s representative in a country which has broken many links with Britain, 25,000 kilometres away, since the colonial days when the Governor’s word was law.

As one would expect of a former Supreme Court judge and learned legal authority, he is keenly perceptive about his role in the highest public office in the land.

The law requires that the Governor-General affix the Royal assent to bills passed by Parliament, but in doing so he exercises no independent judgment. He must follow the advice of the Queen’s Ministers.

Yet Sir David is not merely a ceremonial figurehead, a puppet who dances to strings pulled by Ministers. He can envisage political circumstances, such as the loss of a confidence vote by the Government, in which he could take the initiative for political action.

“If the Prime Minister of the day was unable to command a majority in Parliament, he could not be said to have the power to direct a suggestion to the GovernorGeneral,” Sir David says. This, he agrees, could arise through a confidence vote, but beyond this, he was understandably not prepared to speculate.

“I have considered the various ramifications of your question,” he said in his precise, measured way,, “and would prefer to wait, for events as they might arise, rather than postulate something that might never occur.”

He is, of course, fully aware of the controversial dismissal by the Australian Governor-General, Sir John Kerr, of the ministry of Mr Gough Whitlam in 1975. The set of events that arose in Australia is unlikely to arise here because New Zealand has only one house

in the legislature, but the Australian Governor-General certainly took the initiative — and a startling one at that.

Before he took up office, Sir David read thoroughly Sir John Kerr’s book, Mr Whitlam’s book, and Sir Paul Hasluck’s commentary on both.

"And I read the papers that were issued as a result of that change of government at the time,” he adds. “But it would not be proper for me to comment on the political issues while I am still in office.”

He is, however, quite prepared to describe how he sees himself as the head of State in New Zealand, in the absence of the Queen. “My wife and I see ourselves doing in New Zealand what the Queen would do in Britain in similar circumstances: attending to the constitutional aspect, the ceremonial —' such as opening Parliament — and unifica-. tion.”

Both he and Lady Beattie are concentrating on the unity of the country as much as possible during their term of office.

They point out that flying enables them to reach any part of the country quickly and easily, and they are

seeing . many New Zealanders. They recently met 600 elderly at a function in Auckland, and 400 young people in Christchurch. “With the elderly, we gave them confidence in themselves by telling them they are still of importance in the community,” Sir David says. “And we endeavoured to tell the young they have a real contribution to make to a wonderful country.” As to the present state of unity in the light of the divisive Springbok tour, the Governor' considers the wounds are healing.

“I have seen a number of people who I knew were opposed to the Springbok tour, at Eden Park, Athletic Park, and Lancaster Park, during the Australian rugby tour,” he observes.

“That means they made their, point as they saw it, and have now come back to support rugby in its earlier sense, untrammelled by the Springbok tour.” Sir David is disarmingly frank in talking about the attitude of New Zealanders to his office. But he crisply dismisses any suggestion that because of the informality of

New Zealanders, he might strike some problems over maintaining what might be called the dignity of his office.

One gained the distinct impression that given a less understanding representative of Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth 11, the question could have resulted in a deportation order and the recommendation that this particular Commonwealth subject be thrown into the dungeons of the Tower of London.

Sir David mercifully went on to explain that attitudes to him vary: “When one goes to certain organisations, there is the same attitude to us as there would be to royalty. “But one does not quite expect that at a football smoko. . .” He observes that at an R.S.A. “do,” and he has attended a good many, or in a workingmen’s club, loyalty to the Crown and to the office is “immediately apparent.” Vice-regal engagements are handled with military precision by the official secretary, Mr James Brown, a former lieutenant-colonel

who was in the. army for 27 years.

Everything from planting trees, attending national Boy Scout rallies, and laying foundation stones is approved in advance and noted on a giant planning board on the wall in Government House, Wellington.

Sir David attends a staggering number of functions, some with and some without Lady Norma Beattie. The line has to be drawn against many of a lesser and unrepresentative nature, and political gatherings of any kind are out. The Governor and his wife are only human, and official attendances week in, week out, “are quite "wearing on occasions. But on the other side of the ledger, it is a tremendous privilege to meet so many people and enjoy their company.” Lady Norma says that continually meeting so many people is intensely stimulating. “At times we come home and do not go to sleep for a couple of hours. We might be hungry because as we’ve been so busy doing other things, we haven’t had time to eat.” Attendance at 'one function evokes little enthusiasm from Sir David — the Waitangi Day ceremony at historic Waitangi. “We do attract flak in the form of either abuse, missiles, or swearing, and there is room for marked improvement.

“The Minister of Lands, Mr Elworthy, together with Waitangi trustees, has called meetings with various groups throughout New Zealand. An effort has been made to arrive at a format for the Waitangi ceremony that will suit the races involved, and those who say it is not truly representative”. Sir David predicts there will be an altered programme next year — certainly, he wants .to see an improvement during his term of office.

“My predecessor had difficulty, and so have I,” he says. “We seem to be the target of a group of persons who are determined to use the occasion to say what they think about racial problems.” '

Although very much public people, Sir David and Lady Beattie still strive to live their private lives, whether at Government House or at the alternative “first house” in Auckland where they spend three months a year. They -have seven children, most of whom are grown up; the youngest, Simon, attends a preparatory boarding school. ... Trying to’ cope with two schools, one in Wellington and one in Auckland, with

two different curriculums and losing friends when he changed, was too difficult and disruptive, explains Simon's mother. “Government House is very well designed, and we do endeavour to have as much privacy as we can, which the staff respect,” says Lady Beattie. To run the rambling, 85,000 sq. ft establishment, built 72 years ago, there is an administrative staff of six under Mr Brown; a personal staff in charge of the controller of the household, including two aides-de-camp, and a lady-in-waiting; as well as a domestic staff of about 22.

“It is our family life which we miss, as it is severely curtailed,” Lady Beattie adds. “But we do our best to make the most of it when we have the opportunity. “Our children understand. When we ask them, they come and support us; they’re wonderful and people relate to us through them sometimes, and that makes it a lot easier.”

Sir David’s mother, Mrs Una Beattie, aged 87, lives with them, attends many functions, and accompanied the vice-regal couple to Christchurch. She does the crossword every morning and makes a real, contribution to life at Government House. Like most New Zealanders, the Beatties enjoy getting away from it all during annual holidays. Last summer they went to Torrent Bay, in the Abel Tasman National Park, near Nelson.

Many trampers invited into the Beatties’ bach for a meal, have cause to remember the warm hospitality. Naturally, the vice-regal couple are not saying where they plan to spend their holidays this summer. “But we are planning part of our holidays around the activities of Prince Edward, and we want him to see some parts of New Zealand which we think are delightful from the tourist point of view.” There is plenty of public curiosity about things viceregal, as there is with royalty. So it was not surprising that the spending of $182,000 on improvements to Government House, including $62,300 for a new tennis court and pavilion, was questioned in Parliament. Both Sir David and Lady Beattie were a little annoyed at being asked to justify the

cost of alterations, part of a five-year renovation plan.

The stucco exterior is the worse for dry rot and leaks; the kitchen-pantry was infested with silverfish, rats and mice; and the laundry needed upgrading. . As for the tennis court, the old, lumpy court has been excavated and graded ready for a new, all-weather surface; fences and a pavilion are being built. “It is not as though we are here on a perpetual junket,” says the Governor-General. Sportingly, he invited the most vocal critic, the Labour M.P., Dr Mike Cullen, to use the resurfaced tennis court, in the same way as he has been invited to use the Beehive swimming pool. “We need to keep fit, and playing tennis is one of the best means of doing so,” says Lady Beattie. “My husband walks and runs, but we are so short of time.

“Our squash court is not only used by our staff, but by 30 doctors and nurses from nearby Wellington Hospital, and the tennis court will be similarly available.” How does this couple view their lifestyle, complete with butler, in New Zealand’s largely egalitarian society? They will say that the staff tries to take the stress out of everyday living, enabling them to concentrate on their many and varied important public duties. But Sir David is quick to disagree with the description of New Zealand as egalitarian.

In one sense, he says, the term means every man is as good as his master; a type of almost Fabian, Bernard Shaw socialism dictated to people. Society, he adds, consists of .groups and types who are

not all cast in the same mould.

“We are moving towards big companies; there are mergers. We are changing perceptably from being entirely a primary. producing country to a substantial industrial country as well. “We are looking for all types of markets abroad, and have changed the nature of our character into more of an international-type country, rather than a little country nestling down in the South seas.”

Sir David says he subscribes to the maxim of equality of opportunity and hopes that it will continue in New Zealand.

■ “Even though one can use facile expressions like everyone is born equal — and I don’t say it’s facile; there should be equality of opportunity — people are different, with different skills and intelligences.

“As this country’s population has grown over the last 20 years to three million, it has come to produce such a diversity of talent and a thrust outward from New Zealand, I can’t say we are an egalitarian society.”.

In 1867, it was said of the monarch in Britain that she had three rights — to be consulted, to encourage, and to warn. Sir David Beattie considers these functions apply to the office of Gover-nor-General.

“I have nothing but the greatest help from the Prime Minister and members of his Cabinet, who consult and

advise. Likewise, I get the same help when I ask for it from Mr Rowling and Mr Beetham.

“Over all, my relations with the political leaders is one of great cordiality.” Becoming New Zealand’s “first lady” has brought a considerable change in the life of Lady Beattie. She is receiving an increasing number of invitations to speak. Previously a family person whose public life consisted of a stint as provincial commissioner of Guides in Auckland, she is now speaking regularly on health, education.

An accomplished public speaker himself, Sir David says of this development: “She speaks generally extempore, and in my opinion is very good. She is now getting calls on her time, in addition to our joint call, which makes her life even busier.” Sir David sees it as a public duty sometimes to speak out on important issues, though understandably he would not speak on a political issue. When he addressed pathologists in Dunedin recently and had realised they were devoting a day to the effects of alcohol, he spoke out on the subject in the light of his experience of it as a Supreme Court judge. What do the vice-regal couple enjoy most? They say they get great pleasure out of the greater use of Government House. “We have had musical evenings, ballet, and are having drama before Christmas,” Sir David says. They also derive satisfaction from schoolchildren’s groups going through the house and having its history explained. “We also rate as a very worthwhile experience a visit to many Pacific

islands representing the Queen and New Zealand." Presiding over the Executive Council meeting each Monday when he is able is “an interesting experience.”

“It enables me to meet the Prime Minister and members of the Cabinet, and also to be informed on many issues on which I had only a smattering of knowledge before I took up the position.”

Sir David reads at least six newspapers a day, together with periodicals, and reports from agencies such as Foreign Affairs and the Reserve Bank.

Why the emphasis on daily papers? “Because when we saw the Queen before taking up the appointment, she said it was very important to be well informed,”

■ While two years in office as the Governor-General has meant a marked change for a man who was a Supreme Court judge at 45, Sir David has had regular calls on his legal expertise. Each week he has considered appeals for the prerogative of mercy on behalf of illegal overstayers. These, he says, deal with people from a variety of countries, but primarily from Tonga and Western Samoa. He has also had two appeals as visitor to two universities, and because of his position as commander-in-chief of the armed forces, is the final appeal authority for officers who wish to continue the appeal process.

Upset over a tennis court

The monarch’s three rights

Advice from the Queen