COLONIAL GOVERNORS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 19141, 6 October 1925, Page 10

COLONIAL GOVERNORS.

SELECTION ON MERIT. NEW APPOINTMENTS APPROVED. [FBOII OCR OWN CORRESPONDENT. ] LONDON, Aug. 20. The influence of the Secretary of State for the Dominions, Mr. L. C. M. S. Amery, is probably seen in the recent appointments of the Governors of Nigeria, Jamaica, British Guiana and Hongkong. Hitherto not all the colonial Governors have been chosen for their knowledge and experience of the colonies. Political considerations have been taken into account. Those appointed on this occasion are Sir Graeme Thomson, who has had a long experience of administrative work at the Admiralty, which ho entered irs 1900; Sir Reginald Stubbs, Sir Cecil Hunter Rodwell and Mr. Cecil dementi. Shortly after the outbreak of the war, in September, 1914, Sir G. Thomson was 'appointed Assistant-Director of Tramports, and was promoted Director of Transports shortly after. In 1917 he became Director of Shipping at the Admiralty and Ministry of Shipping, and held this post until, in September, 1919, he was selected as Colonial Secretary of Ceylon. He remained in Ceylon for three years, when he was transferred to British Guiana as Governor. He is now appointed Governor of Nigeria, tha largest of the colonies. Sir R. Stubbs, appointed "Captain-Gen-eral and Governor" of Jamaica, has been Governor of Hongkong since 1919, and was about to come home on leave when the present troubles in China arose. He has handled the very difficult situation at Hongkong during the last three months with conspicuous ability. He was already well known in the East, having served six years in Ceylon, and having in 1910-11 visited the Straits Settlements and Hongkong to inquire into the question of the revision of the salaries of Civil Servants. Sir Cecil Hunter Rodwell, who goes to British Guiana, was appointed Governor of Fiji and High Commissioner, Western Pacific, in 1918. He served with the Suffolk Yeomanry in the South African War, and was appointed to Lord Milner'jj staff in December, 1900. In March, 1904, he became Imperial Secretary in the High Commissioner's office. This post, which brought him into close contact with the native races of South Africa, he continued to hold until his transfer to Fiji. Mr. Cecil Clement! is already well acquainted with Hongkong, for he began his colonial service as a cadet there in 1899 and served there until 1912, when he was transferred to British Guiana, be coming Colonial Secretary at Ceylon in November, 1922. Ho now goes to Hongkong as Governor. Sir G. B. Haddon-Smith, Governor of Windward Islands, who is now on a visit to London, writes to the Times approv ing these apjxiintments. In fairness to the present Secretary of State for the Dominions he desires to state how gratified all colonial officials will be to bear of the appointments. " The men selected," he says, " have already proved their worth in the public service. Mr. Amery's action in rejecting the appeal of ontstd» applicants, political and others, will inspire confidence throughout the Colonial Civil Service snd ought to encourage the right class of .recruit to enter one of the best services untUr the Crown."