INDIA'S NEW VICEROY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20779, 23 January 1931, Page 14

INDIA'S NEW VICEROY.

POPULARITY IN CANADA. MUCH-TRAVELLED GOVERNOR. [from our own correspondent.] VANCOUVER, Deo. 20. Tho appointment of Lord Willingdon as Viceroy of India brings Canadians great pleasure, although they will bo very sorry to part with him and Lady Willingdon, who liavo fitted into every phaso of their public and social activities as well as the long line of their predecessors. Lord Willingdon's intense activity has mado him ono of tho best-known public figures throughout tho Dominion. This does not apply only to tho cities; he has gone far afield in familiarising himself with Canadian life. His travels range over 100,000 miles, at a conservative estimate.

A man of wide interests —art, literature, tho drama, sport and agriculture—Lord Willingdon has left his influence on them all. Ho is tho founder of tho Willingdon arts competition, under tho terms of which annual contests in art, music and literature aro held throughout Canada. Tho present year is the third in which ho lias offered prizes for them. Keen sportsman as ho is, Lord Willingdon took a closo interest in Canada's national winter pastime, ico hockey. He was also a patron of tho international Dog Derby races, which have their home in Canada. Both ho and Lady Willingdon became accomplished ski-runners. An interesting story recalls how well known each becaino in tho field of openair winter sports. Separated on a long ski hike by a blizzard, Lady Willingdon mado across country, intending to pick up the nearest roadway. Here she waited and eventually hailed a motorist who recognised her immediately, although ho was ;i humble employee of an Ottawa warehouse. Search parties wero just about to nsscmblo to seek her when a rambling, old-timo car delivered her nt Rideau Hall. Three million French-Canadians formed a deep attachment, for Their Excellencies when Lord Willingdon renewed the old custom of establishing a vice-regal residence at tho ancient citadel of Quebec City. They broke new ground, also by visiting the West Indies, and His Excellency, on his return, was tho first to draw public attention to the opportunities that existed there for Canadian trade?. It was duo to his advocacy—ho feared, at. the time, (hat ho might bo considered interfering in domestic politics—that, a trade treaty was signed between West. Indies and Canada, under which millions of dollars of commerce was shared between the two, which formerly went to the United Stales. For that incident, ho will probably bo most remembered.