THE OTAGO DAILY TIMES MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 1920. THE GOVERNOR-GENERAL'S ARRIVAL.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18051, 27 September 1920, Page 4

THE OTAGO DAILY TIMES MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 1920. THE GOVERNOR-GENERAL'S ARRIVAL.

Otju new Governor-General, Lord Jellicoe, is expected to reach Wellington to-day, and the circumstance that his arrival coincides with the advent of Dominion Day, a date still not without honour, should be of happy augury. Viscount Jellicoe is assured of a more than cordial welcome from all sections of the people of this country. He does not come among them as a stranger. Very far from it. No man with his record of servico to the Empire could be really a stranger in any part of that Empire. Moreover, only twelve months ago Lord Jellicoe was actually in our midst in pursuance of the important Imperial mission entrusted to Him, that of advising the Governments of the overseas dominions on the subject of naval policy. When, in taking his departure from oar shores last year, Viscount Jellicoe expressed his appreciation of New Zealand as a country in which he would be well content to sojourn, few could have anticipated that he would so soon be returning to assume the Gover-nor-Generalship. But the announcement of his appointment to the vice-regal office came the more happily on that account. Lord Jellicoe left with the people of New Zealand an impression as pleasing as that which he was apparently able to take away of them and their country. His appointment, as well as its acceptance, was recognised as no small compliment to the dominion. For it is no disparagement to any of his predecessors in office to say that none of them possessed a record of distinguished service as a guardian of the Empire's liberty comparable to his. We have reason to be proud of the fact that, with Viscount Jellicoe as Governor-General, New Zealand may be said to occupy in the viceregal sense a unique position among the dominions of the Empire. Certainly no more popular appointment could have been made, and Lord Jellicoe's official relations with the Government and people of New Zealand will be inaugurated under the most favourable auspices. The duties of the Governor-Gene-ral, whatever the superficial view sometimes entertained, are by no means light and unimportant. There are narrow limitations to the political activities of a Governor, but that part of colonial politics which touches upon the Connection with the Mother Country is particularly his province. As an outcome of the war New Zealand advanced in status as a part of the Empire, and assumed new responsibilities. The war brought home to her people as nothing else could have done the meaning of, and the necessity for, solidarity within the Empire. Apart from the British Empire New Zealand would be but a waif and stray among the nations, an easy prey to the first covetous aggressor. If every reflection as to what New Zealand is or may become is not tinctured with a grateful recognition of what we owe to the British Navy then there is a strange lack of perception amongst us. And we have now a Governor(xeneral who may perhaps be said to stand for the British Navy in a more comprehensive sense than any other man of his generation, many as the distinguished representatives of the navy are Great may well be our cause for gratification in the thought that we shall have as occupant of the vice-regal office an admiral who ranks among England's most famous sailors, the man upon whose shoulders was placed in .August, 1914 the tremendous responsibility involved in the command of the Grand Fleet which, k in the strenuous struggle that followed, justified so splendidly its claim to be "Britain's sure shield." I n acknowledging its debt to the navy the Empire must also acknowledge its indebtedness to Viscount Jellicoe for the treat ser vices rendered by him in contributing towards its salvation. As an expert on all matters relating to naval efficiency Lord Jellicoe occupies the highest possible place. The Imperial Government showed its regard for him as the organising brain of the whole fabric of the nav* and of naval defence in selecting him as missioner to the overseas dominions. In relation to the naval outlook for th* future the Pacific Ocean has become a sphere of greatly increased importance JJi the attention becoming centred upon it New Zealand must sliare The cir cumstances bring New Zealand more closely into touch with the problem of the achievement, through the naval protection of its communications, of the security of the Empire. And we may take it that-apart from the fact that it confers distinction upon New Zealand—it is of import to the Mother Country and to the Empire at large to have in this maritime outpost of the Pacific a nav-1 expert of Lord Jellicoe's recognised authority, able to vision with experienced eye the great ocean tracks of the Southern Hemisphere. So far as the naval policy of this dominion is concerned the Government will be in the tortunate position of having always the benefit of the Governor-General's advice and counsel. This should be invaluable to it. Lord Jellicoe's record of acfcivitv and industry has been such that, while he has amply earned the relaxation which we hope he will find in New Zeaand, we may expect that habits which have never been relinquished will be in evidence in our midst. It is only a few weeks since the publication of Lord Jellicoe's new book entitled "The Crisis of the Naval War,"- concerning which a competent reviewer observes: "This fascinating book, from which the nation can for the first time learn how the submarine menace was countered and victory brought within our grasp, ends or, a note of warning to a people which lives by the sea, and enjoys its liberties in virtue of its power to command in time of war the maritime highways x>i a woatLd-

wido Empire." It is our expectation that Lord Jellicoe's residence in their midst will bring homo to New Zealandcrs more clearly than they have hitherto given strong evidence of recognising the extent to which their future must be that of a maritime people, governed by maritime considerations. And our now Governor-General's advice to us will assuredly be in terms to which he has already given expression amongst us, urging the co-operation of the whole Empire in the maintenance of effective forces against possiblo attack, and putting into practice the counsel which he so well tenders in his latest volume: "In war it is not only the material which counts but the spirit of a people, and we must enlist the support, spontaneous and effective, of every section of the King's dominions in the task of sea-defence which lies before us, consulting fully and unreservedly the representatives of our kith and kin, and giving them the benefit of whatever instructed advice we, with our ancient traditions and matured knowledge, may possess." •