NEW GOVERNOR-GENERAL

Hawera Star, Volume L, 4 December 1930, Page 5

NEW GOVERNOR-GENERAL

APPOINTMENT OF AUSTRALIAN INNOVATION DISCUSSION IN HOME PRESS. ‘ (United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph Copyright.) LONDON, Doc. 2. The newspapers are "icing great prominence to the appointment of Sir Isaac Alfred Isaacs, Chief Justice of the High Court of Australia, as Gov-ernor-General of Australia in succession to Lord Stonehaven. The “Daily Express” describes it as the hist illustration of a historic change in the constitutional relationships between the Dominions and the Mother Country arising from the Imperial Conference, in that a native-born Australian has been appointed Governor-General ol the Commonwealth. The paper proceeds to emphasise that the announcement was made from Australia House, not as hitherto in the “London Gazette.” . A third point of extreme interest, adds the paper, is the wording of the an noun eniont, “The King, on the recommendation ol Mr. Seullin, has appointed,” etc. The paper also points out-that in the present case the Dominions Office was not aware of the appointment until the -announcement was made from Ausifalia House. - Virjhe Times,” in a leader, says: “Sir Isaac’s name was apparently submitted to the King without any alternative of a formal preliminary conversation, which was most significant to those who care for the maintenance of the Crown as one of the remaining vital links of the Empire. Australians may reflect on the disadvantage of leaving the Commonwealth’s highest post as a prize for men who have taken sides in party politics. They may also reflect that any step quotable as a tendency of thrift from other Dominions is hardly calculated to improve their standing and credit in the eyes of the world. The King was undoubtedly right in confirming the appointment. “The risk of an election fought on the difference between the Crown and the Commonwealth Government, enlisting all the forces of Republicanism, Communism and anti-imperialism and religious fanaticism is not contemplatable. A weaker sovereign might have resisted the Minister’s advice, but Mr.

Scullin’iS political embarrassments and manifest inexperience, and the fact that he offered the place to a friend in all good faith before he left Canberra, made the ease all the stronger for His Majesty’s consent, but it must be kept reserved for use if a Minister’s advice anvwhere in the Empire runs counter to the interests of the people and the true interests of the country concerned.” The “Daily Telegraph” describes the announcement as one of the romances of Australia. “To begin his career, as Sir Isaac Isaacs did, a boy clerk in the Public Service, and end as the representative of the King, is to join the select company of self-made immortals,” says the paper. Mr. J. H. Thomas, speaking at a farewell dinner, referred to “the great change and innovation which 1 hope and pray will be a success. For the first time in the history of the British Constitution the King has appointed as Governor-General a very distinguished Australian.” Mr. C. T. Te Water, South Africa, presiding, said a new confidence had created in recent years and a >\(sfser bond formed between the Gover-nor-General and the executive, resulting iu the widening of the sphere of flic Governor-General in the future.

SURPRISE IN AUSTRALIA •SINGULARLY UNHAPPY TIME.” SYDNEY, Dec. 3. Considerable surprise, has been occasioned by Sir Isaac Isaac’s appointment, although he is held in the highest esteem. Lady .Isaacs recently' returned from a trip abroad. There are two daughters, Mrs. David Cdhen, Sydney, and Mrs. Sefton Cullen, Singapore. the Sydney “Evening News” says: “Certainly Australian opinion is not unanimously in favour of the appointment of an Australian, hut the lack of unanimity has nothing personal in it, for there is no more outstanding Australian and no one better deserving of being the King’s representative than Sir Isaac Lsaaes. He is a very distinguished lawyer who has filled and. adorned many public offices.’ s “While the appointment of Sir Isaac Isaacs is a concession to Australian sentiment” says the “Sun,” l it comes at a singularly unhappy time. It is perfectly certain to colour British feeling and is almost sure the affect the financial issue between the' two countries. To many Britons it will be as if we have struck away the hand offered in fellowship. ‘They wish to walk alone and we will not intrude.’ J bat will undoubtedly be the response of the British peo.de who think about these things.” ... , Sir Isaac Isaacs will be sworn m as Governor-General about the middle of January. He is at present in Sydney presiding over a part-heard case. loi av he received hosts of congratulatory cablegrams and telegrams. Acknowledging the congratulations or the Bar, Sir Isaac said: “I am humbly and dutififily grateful to my King for jjtVvG very high honour he has graciously Conferred upon me. and I trust 1 snail ire worthy' of it.”

NEW GOVERNOR'S -CAREER.

NATIVE OF MELBOURNE

rn April- of this year, when it was reportefli that. -Sir Isaac Isaacs had been offered the post of Governor-General of Australia, his native land, 'a somewhat bitter controversy arose.

One section of Comimowealth opinion considered it a mistake to so exalt a native-born 1 Australian:, end based its argument largely on (the contention that the 'move would' sever a close and important tie with the Motherland. The other section welcomed the proposal whole-heartedly, pointing out that viceregal honour need not necessarily be the prerogative of one whose birthplace under the: Empire's flag happened to be in the: British Isles. Air -T. 11. Scullin, the Prime Minister, announced that he would! interview ‘the 'King during his visit to England on the business of the Imperial Gonfere'ncP. and! the appoin.t.mc-.n* now •made [clearly is the outcome of this inderyieiw. At. the age of 75 years Sir Isaac Isaac's is alert, untiring, and impl'a.c--nble. He is smal'l in build, but possesses an 1 arresting personality and a remarkable memory which, on many oieensions, has stood him in. good! stead in the legal and political arenas. Sir Isaac mas born ait Melbourne and educated! at tho YaJckandandaili State

School, thei ißeeehwdrth Grammar School and the Melbourne University. He was called) ’to- the Bar in TB'Bo, and his precise. logical mind, -and his coo'! intellect besides a brain quick to grasp and glow ito lose fundamentals fitted! him for his chosen, .career.

He began, to interest hinuelf in politics in; the early 'nineties. Tir 1S0:I ho was returned 'to the Legislative Assembly' as representative of the Bogong district, .and the following year was Solid to r-Geneira'l in the Patterson Ministry. Sir Tsaia.c then became AttorneyGenera 1 ! in the first (TS94-99) sec-j ondi (U!0-0-01) Turner Ministries Then, leaving S-t'a'te for Federal politic*, he ■was elected! by Indi to the House of ■Representatives, and became prominent ■among the radical protectionist section of 'Sir E. Barton's followers. In- 19-04. Donkin's Ministry' was ousted in- favour of Watson's Labour Ministry, and it was doubtful what, Deakiri’s followers -would dot Isaacs helped to prevent Deakin’s whole following from coalescing nv-ith Reid s, for ■while 15 of them- sat with Reid’s, party in the House, eight cithers, with lsaaes and Lyne, shared ‘the Opposition benches with Labour. In June. 1905, Dcakim withdrew his support from Reid and formed a new Ministry, and Tsaaies became Attorney-General. This he held until October, 1906, when he was elevated! to Itho High Court Bench, thereby, it was said, sacrificing the Prime Ministership, which ‘would have been his in time. On the Bench his career was no less distinguished. His famous judgments had literary merit, as well as close reasoning, an-d his forceful personality and wide knowledge of law cutis.* d them Ito be received with line greatest respect. Sir Isaac became a Privy- Cbunelllc.ir in, 1921, and in- 1924 was appointed a member of it* Judicial Conunvi-ttee. Tn 1928 he received the K.C.IM.G., a,ml in April of this year, n's senior Judge, became Chief Justice in succession to Bi>i- Adrian Knox.