The Northern Advocate Daily “NORTHLAND FIRST” THURSDAY, JULY 13, 1939. Vice-Regal Appointments

Northern Advocate, 13 July 1939, Page 6

The Northern Advocate Daily “NORTHLAND FIRST”

THURSDAY, JULY 13, 1939. Vice-Regal Appointments

Registered for transmission through the post as a Newspaper ;;

NEW Zealanders these clays seem to be in a peculiarly receptive mood for the most improbable items of gossip. Rumours of all kinds are given serious credence in circles which might be expected to show greater reserve toward idle chatter.' Perhaps the feeling of tension in international and domestic politics lies at the bottom of all these imaginative whisperings. Now and again—as in the case of the Lee letter—gossip proves in the event to have some foundation, and so the irresponsible folk who circulate fairy tales and canards are encouraged to go on doing so, sure of finding an appreciative and credulous audience. Typical of the silly stories noised abroad from time to time is that which for months past has claimed that a New Zealander Would be appointed to succeed Lord Galway as Governor-General, that the Government’s choice had fallen on Sir Ernest Davis, Mayor of Auckland. This engaging piece of fantasy has been the rounds for months, but it has been left to a member of the Auckland Presbytery to pay it the unwarranted compliment of taking it seriously. The Rev. J. D. Smith, who drew the Presbytery’s attention to the matter at a meeting on Tuesday evening, did not mention Sir Ernest Davis by name, but suggested that the Government had “a leading brewer” in mind as Lord Galway’s successor. A few minutes of calm reflection might have warned Mr Smith that he might make both himself and the Auckland Presbytery look rather silly. First of all, there is no evidence that as yet the Government has given any consideration whatever to the appointment of a successor to Lord Galway. The latter does not relinquish his appointment until next May, and it will be time enough next Christmas to begin the consultation with the British authorities which normally precede the selection of a new Governor-General. It is certainly true fhat small Sections in the Labour movement have urged the appointment of a New Zealand GovernorGeneral—or the abolition of the office altogether—but the Labour Party has not officially adopted any such proposals, and the Government, being fully aware how the mass of the people hold the Governor-General in respect as a symbol of Imperial unity and loyalty, and also being fully conscious of the deep affection inspired in New Zealand by such notable men as Lord Bledisloe, Sir Charles Fergusson and Lord Jellicoe, would be wise to hesitate before committing itself to such a drastic change of policy, even if it had decided to appoint a New Zealander to dwell in state at Government House, there is not a shred of evidence that it would recommend Sir Ernest Davis. He is not a member of the Labour Party, which opposes him vigorously in contests for the Auckland Mayoralty, and it is only necessary to study a few recent Government appointments to realise that, in nearly all cases, it reserves the ‘‘plums” for its own members and Supporters.