The Dominion SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 1941. OUR NEW GOVERNOR-GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 34, Issue 127, 22 February 1941, Page 10

The Dominion SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 1941. OUR NEW GOVERNOR-GENERAL

-X. loval and cordial welcome will be extended by the Neu Zea!m d ueoole to' their new Governor-General, Marshal of the Royal An Force Sir Cyril Newall, on his arrival at Wellington today for nib official inauguration. In this tribute, it is hardly necessary to add, will be included Lady Newall and the three children who have come ,X “ his Excellency the new and H be :hoped h.gbly pleasurable experience of life tn this Britain of the Sou) . ' , find the New Zealanders a friendly, kindly, and understanding peop c, ready to extent to His Majesty’s appointed representatives their fullest help and co-operation during their stay with them Our new Governor-General comes to New Zealand in the toot steps of many distinguished men. The office he now assumes been graced bv members of the British fighting Services—the Navy and the Army—and in Lord Bledisloe the primary industries have had a distinguished and worthy friend. But the Empire today is h. secure and defiant in the face of a world peril, by a third gi eat pi Ila of defence—a third proud Service. It is wholly admirable and h ing. therefore, as well as a high compliment to New Zealand, that Sit Cyril Newall should come as an officer of the Royal Air I‘Otce lately Chief of the Air Staff: the commanding officer of the youngest Service. There is, moreover, in this time of war a deeper significance in His Majesty’s choice. Sir Cyril brings to his office knowlcdg and experience in air defence organization which no doubt he w make available to this country. His advice will not merely be helpful. It will be in the highest degree authoritative. Symbolically, today’s swearing-in ceremony will be one ot the most significant'in this Dominion’s history. Never before mtmieo peace or war has that familiar term, the bond of Empire, been invested with such vital, personal meaning for every British citizen. The office of Governor-General is the earnest of that bond; the GovernorGeneral is the figure of the British Sovereign in this country. As in the past, the test of war has tightened the bond. It has cemented still more firmly the British brotherhood. It has given the duty, whten will be accepted today by Sir Cyril Newall, an added importance and a still more vital significance.