OBITUARY

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22319, 17 January 1936, Page 9

OBITUARY

LORD FORSTER FORMER GOVERNOR-GENERAL (Received January I(i. 5.5 p.m.'/ LONDON*. Jan. 15 The death is announced of Lord Forster, following an operation, in a London nursing home. The late Lord Forster was GovernorGeneral of Australia 1920-25. He was born on January 31, 1866. He was the son of Major John Forster and was raised to the peerage in December, 1919, on the occasion of his resignation of the post of Financial Secretary to the War Office. He first entered the House of Commons in 1892 as Mr. H. W. Forster. He was then member for

the Sevenoaks Division of Kent which ho continued to represent till 1JI», when he was elected for the newlycreated borough of Bromley, Kent. Ho was Junior Lord of the treasury and one of the Government Whips during the term of Mr. Balfour's Ministry (1902-5), and after the Liberals came into power he continued to act as one of the Unionist Whips for some tune. During the long discussion in 1911 on the National Insurance Bill, a subject in which he took great interest, he led the Opposition, at Mr. Balfour s request, in its criticism of that measure. In 1915 he was appointed financial Secretary to the War Office, a post which ho held up to the time of his resignation from the House of Commons on the ground of ill-health. In his vounger days Lord Forster was a brilliant cricketer and played in the Eton eleven, the Oxford eleven and for the Gentlemen against the I layers. Tn 1919 he succeeded Lord Haw Re as president of the M.C.C. He was also a racquet player and golfer and had the distinction of being captain of the Koyal and Ancient Club of St. Andrews. Lord and Lady Forster, who is a daughter of the first Lord Montagu of Beaulieu, presented the borough of Lewi,sham with a field and wood of 24 acres as a park in 1919 in memory of their two sons who fell m the war. Lord Forster was a popular GovernorGeneral in Australia mainly on account of his keen interest in all forms of snort. He was an enthusiastic yachtsman, frequently sailing his own boat, and did much to assist Australian cricket. His interest in returned soldiers also was greatly appreciated by all Australians. It was during Lord Forster's term of office that the Prince of Wales visited the Commonwealth. There is no heir to the barony.