NO WORTHIER TASK

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25385, 17 November 1943, Page 3

NO WORTHIER TASK

IMPORTANCE OF POSITION (Rec. 10 p.m.) LONDON, Nov. 15. The Duke’s private secretary, Sir Godfrey Thomas, said it would not be possible for his Royal Highness to leave Britain until Princess Elizabeth comes of age next April. Under the present provisions of the Regency Act, should the Regency Council have to act for the King, then the next in line of direct succession to the throne who is of age, namely, the Duke of Gloucester, would have to act as Regent during Princess Elizabeth’s minority. The Associated Press says it is most unlikely that the Duke’s establishment at Canberra will differ materially from Lord Gowrie’s. The staff will probably be on austerity war-time lines. After the death of the Duke of Kent the Duke of Gloucester gave up his fulltime military duties to give the King more help. Australia will find the Duchess a charming, unassuming woman, although perhaps one of the most retiring members of the Royal Family. The Times in a leading article says:— “ Unwearying as the Duke of Gloucester has been in the discharge of the manifold duties of Royalty in, England and much as he and the Duchess will be missed, there is no worthier task to which a Prince of the Blood can be called than that of presiding over the Government of one of the great dominions. If events follow the generally expected course, his arrival may coincide with, or be closely followed by, the transfer to the Pacific Ocean of the centre of strategic interest in the world war. It will fall on him to represent the King at a time when the continent which the Australians so resolutely defended in very anxious days is made the base for lan irresistible forward sweep by the United Nations across the ocean. He may reasonably anticipate being still in Canberra when Japanese usurpation is overthrown throughout the Far East and while a better order is taking shape in the southern hemisphere. A victorious Australia will be a greater power in this order and will bear heavier responsibilities than ever before. The good wishes of the Empire will accompany the new GovernorGeneral on his mission.”