SIR ISAAC ISAACS.

Manawatu Standard, Volume L, Issue 144, 17 May 1930, Page 9

SIR ISAAC ISAACS.

THE .GOVERNOR-GENERALSHIP. COMMENTS ON THE POSITION. Writing on the Australian GovernorGeneralship, a special correspondent of the London Morning Post says: “While Whitehall maintains complete siience, it is pretty clear what has happened. Mr Scullin wanted 'the Australian Governor-Generalship bestowed upon Sir Isaac Isaacs, who was prepared to accept. The Cabinet accepted, and Sir Isaac’s name was then submitted to Britain. In other words, Sir Isaac Isaacs was recommended, but Mr Scullin may thereby have committed a breach of courtesy, if not of the Constitution. It is the practice of His Majesty to submit names to the dominions for their consideration. There may be no reason why an Aus-tralian-born should not be the King’s representative, but it is for His Majesty to say who will be. “In such an eventuality His Majesty would want full assurances that the appointment would have practically unanimous approval. This definitely is not the case in the present situation. There is too great a sentimental and moral bond between Australia and the Old Country for it to be the people’s wish that such a break in tradition should occur. Returned soldiers’ organisations oppose the idea, also other representative bodies. Moreover, Sir Isaac Isaacs is 75. “Mr Scullin has waxed indignant that the leakage should have occurred, but it was a fortunate accident, as public opinion now has opportunity to express itself on an issue of grave Imperial importance. Tho Imperial conference will give Mr Scullin an excellent opportunity to discuss the matter with the powers concerned.” MR GULLETT’S PROTEST. “It is an interesting reflection that with Labour in office, as the Scullin Government is to-day, legislative and administrative acts of violence may be perpetrated at the bidding of a relatively small minority of the House of Representatives,” said the deputyLeader of the Federal Opposition (Mr Gullett). “Take, for example, the decision of the Government to recommend to the King the appointment of an Australian Governor-General. It may actually be that this to tamper with the vital fabric of Empire went through the Labour caucus by only a bare majority. In other words, less than one-third of the total number of members of the House of Representatives are actually in command of national affairs, and have it in their power to take a step which may go far to weaken the ties which, bind Australia to the mother country.’ CLERGYMAN’S VIEW. The Rev. J. Gillespie, speaking at the South Grafton (N.S.W.) Presbyterian Church, said lie desired to take the opportunity of joining with those who had declared that the attempt to alter the practice of appointing an Imperial Governor-General was an attempt to weaken the bonds that bound the Empire together.