Manawatu Evening Standard. Circulation, 3,500 Copies Daily, TUESDAY, APRIL 12, 1910. SIR JOHN DICKSON-POYNDER.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLI, Issue 9187, 12 April 1910, Page 4

Manawatu Evening Standard. Circulation, 3,500 Copies Daily, TUESDAY, APRIL 12, 1910. SIR JOHN DICKSON-POYNDER.

New Zealand's new Governor appears to be ffi man of considerable personality* He has already played several prominent parts on the Imperial stage. As a soldier and politician he has rendered services to the Empire that marked him out for promotion when the opportunity came. His political career was notable for a display of independence that is infrequent in England, where so much depends on party support, and in South Africa his work was of a distinguished order. Sir John Dickson-Poynder is a man in the prime of life, and is the sixth baronet of his line, the title having been created in ISO 2. He was born forty-four years ago, his father being a Rear-Admiral, and he succeeded to the title in 1884. His education was obtained at Harrow and Oxford. As heir to his mother's estate he adopted his maternal grandfather's name Poynder in ISSI, adding to it the baronetcy which he inherited later from his uncle, Captain Sir Alexander Collingwood Dickson, R.N. From 1892 until the dissolution in 190S he continuously represented Chippenham, a division of Wiltshire, in the House of Com mo lis. At the 1900 election, as on previous occasions, he stood as a Conservative, but when Mr Chamberlain started his fiscal reform agitation, Sir John took up a strong line in opposition, and, having already shown his disapproval o? the Education Act, no one was surprised when lie finally crossed the'floor and took up his seat oil the Liberal benches. That this step was popular with his constituents was very emphatically shown in the following general election. Avhen the Conservatives ran a candidate against him. He increased his -majority from 508 to 1966. Our new Governor lias also taken a hand in municipal politics in the wide- and active sphere of tlic London County Council, whereon lie represented St. George's, Hanover Square, from lb9S until 1204 as a Moderate, though ho was more inclined to the Progressive

policy than his party label indicated. I He was appointed chairman of the Traffic Commission for London, and was a strong advocate of electric tram extension. While still a member of Parliament Sir John volunteered for active service. He was a major o the Wilts Yeomanry when the South African War broke out. He took pai t in three actions, and was awarded t e Distinguished Service Order. While he was at the front the election cam- , j paign of 1900 began, and Sir John telegraphed his election address fiom the Transvaal. Needless to say, his absence on so patriotic a purpose did not prejudice his position, and he was returned by an increased majoiity. These biographical details serve to show that the Dominion's new Governor will be a worthy successor to Lord Plunket. He is personally very popular, and in well-informed circles it is understood that he intends to enter upon a diplomatic career.