The Timaru Herald. MONDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 1924. LORD JELLICOE’S MISSION.

Timaru Herald, Volume XCVIII, Issue 18084, 24 November 1924, Page 8

The Timaru Herald. MONDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 1924. LORD JELLICOE’S MISSION.

“I should be very proud to act as commercial traveller for the Dominion,” said Lord Jeiiicoe at a farewell tendered the retiring Governor-General by the United Commercial Travellers' Association of New Zealand at Wellington on Friday. Acknowledging the presentation of the g’old badge of the Association, which was handed him by the acting president, who eulogised the gallant sailor as the “nest representative of the biggest firm in the world,” Lord Jeiiicoe praised the country, its people, its children ; moreover his Excellency was | not unmindful of the splendid I work the “C.T’s” have done in New Zealand for patriotic and charitable causes. But Lord Jeiiicoe should be _ more to the Empire than a walking’ advertisement for New Zealand; indeed, the significance of the return to Britain of the victor of Jutland, has not escaped keen observer■ of the march of world events. Unquestionably Lord Jeiiicoe s presence in London, after being i m close touch, with the problems ox the Pacific should enable the new Administration at. Westminster to obtain first hand knowledge: “Tliis man’s going Homo appears to m© to b© of tremendous importance,” stated Mr Floyd Gibbons (European director of the foreign news service of the Chicago ‘Tribune’”), referring, in tlio course of an interview on Friday, to "Lord Jellicoe’s approaching departure foi the Old Country. “It means this: that the greatest naval expert of the white people of the world, of the Allied peoples of the world, lias been down here for four years past working on the problems of’ the Pacific. The knowledge that lie has thus gained may be the moans some day of saving our civilisation, "hat is not stating it top strongly. ] think that what Lord Jollicoo lias learnt in the, Pacific since 1919 is of iinmense valuo to the Allied nations, especially to those more directly interested, like America, Canada, Australia and New Zealand, in the problems of the Pacific. W© have in America numbers of naval officers who were in ships that steamed behind Lord Jefiicoo’s flag in the North Sea, and they have a considerable respect for iris capacity as a naval man. Our interest in the maintenance of peace in this'Pacific is just as strong as the British interest. In consequence of that, there will undoubtedly be a feeling in America that what benefits result from Lord Jellicoe’s experience for the last four years in the Pacific, they must be of enormous value to America as well as to England, and in fact, to the whole of the white peoples of the world in the event of anything happening that inquires our co-operation—it Russia, foi’ instance, which is in a great state of unrest, or any other Power, causes trouble.” When. Lord Jeiiicoe was appointed Governor-General of New Zealand particular attention was drawn to the happy and timely circumstances which gave this Dominion an exceedingly popular aud distinguished saihn as vice-regal representative, at the same time enabled one of the greatest naval strategists of the day to contemplate, on the spot the problems of the naval defence of the Pacific. Lord Jeiiicoe has never disguised hi,-, opinion on the need for a strong navy. The decision of v Uiu Macdonald Administration' to abandon Singapore aud reduce tlie Navy to a more shadow of its former glory and strength, must havei amazed a naval strategist of the calibre of our retiring Governor General, but that miasma has passed, and there has been installed at Westminster a patriotic Administration which I possesses the vision _ that embraces the whole Empire. ‘ It is to men like Lord Jeiiicoe,” the chairman of the Wellington' Harbour Board said the other day, “that the Empire looks for guidance, and does not look in vain.” Although the retiring Governor-General s impending departure from these l fortunate shores is universally regretted, it may he said without hurting anyone’s feelings, that the best service such a distinguished sailor as Lord Jeiiicoe can render the Empire in general and the British communities in the Pacific in particular is in a consultative capacity at the seat of Empire authority. Mr Baldwin’s precedent smashing decision to consult representatives of the Oversea Dominions gives added significance to the return of Lord Jeiiicoe. Doubtless the Imperial Cabinet will appreciate the value of the first-hand information the victor of Jutland lias gathered during Lis stay in the Dominion, and we have not the sliuhtes; doubt that Lord Jeiiicoe will become not only a staunch -chainin'on of the claims of this tlirice-ldo'-.sed land as an eminently desirel'lc place of residence, but be will'make himself felt in the councils of the Empire as a highly oualifte't advocate of im m edi a tel v i iror idi n e adonua t o naval protection for the almost unprotected outposts of the Empire. Tn undertaking this most important'- duty, the gallant sailor ninv vet he able to reciprocate iu the most practical wav. the friendly feelings the-warm-hearted people of the Dominion have- always 'dierished for ("ii- retiring GoveinorGeneral. and thus render a great national s'”‘viee in nre'-eiwing- the. unify (he Empire end providing for its adequate defence.