NEW GOVERNOR-GENERAL OF N.Z.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20425, 2 October 1934, Page 7

NEW GOVERNOR-GENERAL OF N.Z.

Lord Galway Appointed To Succeed Lord Bledisloe.

DISTINGUISHED CAREER IN ARMY.

Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, October 2. THE Governor-General has been authorised to release the following:—• His Majesty the King has approved the appointment of Viscount Galway, D. 5.0., 0.8. E., to he Governor-General of New Zealand in succession to Lord Bledisloe, whose term of office will expire in March of next year. Viscount Galway, who saw active service throughout the Great War, has had a distinguished military career, and is a keen sportsman. He was educated at Eton and Oxford.

The “ Star’s ” Parliamentary cor-: respondent states:—Viscount Galway, j D. 5.0., 0.8. E., whose full name is ; George Vere Arundell MoncktonArundell, is the eighth Viscount of his line and a descendant of an old English family. He was born in 1882. being the eldest son of the seventh Viscount and Vere, eldest daughter of Mr Ellis 1 Gosling, of Busbridge Hall, Godaiming.! Surrey. In 1900 he joined the Sherwood Rangers Yeomanry, served in South ' Africa and remained in that corps for j four years, at the end of which time he was gazetted to the Ist Life Guards, j By 1908 he had risen to become adju- : tant in this regiment, and he held that j post for three years, at the end of J which time he was promoted to cap- j tain. In the first two years of the World j War he was staff captain with the 4th 1 Cavalry Brigade. From 1917 until 1919 j he was A. and Q.M.G. to the 2nd j Cavalry Division, and in the first year after the war became brevet-colonel His opportunity for further promotion ; came in 1925, and he was then appointed to command the Life Guards, holding that post until 1929. when he retired. Two years later he succeeded his father. Ancient Titles. Lord Galway holds the titles of Baron Killard. which dates from 1727, Baron Monckton (a barony of the United Kingdom), which goes back to 1887 as well as the Viscountcv. which also dates back to 1727. The first and last are Irish titles, and John Monckton. Member of Parliament for Pontefract but officially connected with Ireland as Receiver-General of Revenue, was awarded these Irish peerages, the United Kingdom bronv falling to the lot of the eleventh pe<#. The family name is Monckton. except for the peer himself, and the direct line of succession who are named Monckton- j Arundell, though the fifth Viscount discarded the name for himself and for the yoqnger children. The new Governor-General married in 1922 the Hon Lucia Margaret White. i once a Maid of Honour to her Majesty • Queen Alexandra and daughter of the { third Baron Annaly. There are four children, the Hon Mary Victoria Monckton (born in 1924 >, the Hon Celia Ella Vere Monckton (born in 1925). the Hon Isabel Cynthia Monckton (born in 1926), and the Hen Simon George Robert Monckton-Arun-dell, heir to the Viscountcy, born in 1929. I

Lord Galway has been awarded as i honours for war service the D.S.O. : (1917) and the Military 0.8. E. (1919). He once essayed to enter the political field, contesting the Scarborough seat |in the Conservative interest in 1910, I but was defeated. Son of Famous Politician. Lord Galway’s father was a famous I politician and in the House of Commons was known as “ The Stormy Petrel.’’ He was a famous shot and ; fisherman, and was master of Grove i Hunt. In 1925 he set forth some of the secrets of successful mastership in i his book “ A Pack of Foxhounds.” He entered the Houge of Commons in 1872 and continued to sit in the House cf Commons even after he. had succeeded to the Viscountcy. This he was able to do on the ground that his peerages were Irish. He took a keen interest in politics and combined his work in the House with hunting. Sometimes after a late sitting he would catch an early morning train north and take his hounds out at eleven o’clock and be back at Westminster for the day’s debate. He was A.D.C. to Queen Victoria, King Edward and King George V., and after 1887, when he received his peerage of the United Kingdom. fre took his seat in the House of Lords. His wife, and mother of the new Governor-General, was known as the author of some charming poems. She died in 1921, leaving one son and one daughter. Lord Galway's name is pronounced Gaulway, and his family name is pronounced Munkton-Arrundel. Hearty Welcome Waiting. “ I feel confident that the news that the King has approved the appointment of Lord Galway as GovernorGeneral in New Zealand in succession to Lord Bledisloe, whose term of office expires in March next year, will be received with great pleasure by the people of the Dominion,” said Mr Forbes to-day. “ Lord Galway has had a distinguished career in the Army and has commanded the Life Guards for four years. lie is a keen sportsman and in addition has travelled extensively. “ I am sure Lord Galway will prove a worthy successor to his distinguished predecessors in the high qffice of Gover-nor-General and particularly Lord Bledisloe. who during his residence in this Dominion has earned the warm and affectionate esteem of all sections of the community. A hearty welcome awaits Lord and Lady Galway and their family.”