THE GOVERNOR-GENERAL

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 73, Issue 441, 5 December 1930, Page 8

THE GOVERNOR-GENERAL

AUSTRALIAN APPOINTMENT GOVERNMENT CRITICISED Telegraph—Piees Asiociation—Copyright.] SYDNEY, Dec. 4. The Sydney Morning Herald, commenting on Sir I. A. Isaacs’ appointment, says: “We are sure that we represent a widespread feeling in Australia in declaring that we regret profoundly the innovation and the fracture of an Imperial link of inherent importance, with the extra significance added that it was one of the last visible links remaining.” Mr Bavin comments: ‘‘lt is a matter of great regret that the time-honoured system of the appointment of new men trom. the Home country has been departed from.’’

Mr Latham, al Canberra, says: “It would appear now that the Commonwealth Government has. in effect, chosen the Governor-General. If the Commonwealth Government actually advises the King in this matter in the same way as it advises the Governor-General to appoint officers to various positions, then the Governor-General must be regarded as really a representative of the Government of the day.”

In April of this year, when it wa< reported that Sir Isaac Isaacs had been offered the post of Governor-General of Australia, his native land, a somewhat bitter controversy arose.

One section of Commonwealth opinion considered it a mistake to so exalt a native-born Australian, and based its argument largely on the contention that the move would sever a close and important tie with the Motherland. The other section welcomed the proposal whole-heartedly, pointing out that viceregal honour need not necessarily be the prerogative of one whose birthplace under the Empire’s flag happened to be in the British Isles. Mr J. H. Sculliu, the Prime Minister, announced that he vould interview tne King during his visit to England os the business of the Imperial Conference. and the appointment now made clearly is the outcome of this interview. At’ the age of 75 years Sir Isaac Isaacs is alert, untiring, and implacable. He is small in build, but possesses an arresting personality and a remarkable memory which, on many occasions, has stood him in good stea : in the legal and political arenas. Sir Isaac was born at Melbourne and educated at the Yackandanah State School, the Beechworth Grammar School, and the Melbourne University. He was called to the Bar in 1880, and his precise, logical mind and his cool intellect besides a brain quick to grasp and slow to lose fundamentals fitted him for his chosen career. Interest in Politics. He began to interest himself in politics in the early ’nineties. In 1802 he was returned to the legislative Assembly as representative of the Bogong district, and the following year was Solicitor-General in the Patterson Ministry. Sir Isaac then became At-torney-General in the first (1894-99) and second (1900-01) Tuner Ministries. Then, leaving State for Federal politics, he was elected by Indi to the House of .Representatives, and became prominent among the radical protectionist section of Sir E. Barton’s followers. In 1904 Deakin’s Ministry was ousted in favour of Watson’s Labour Ministry, and it was doubtful what Deakin’s following would do. Isaacs helped to prevent Deakin’s whole following from coalescing with Reid’s, for while°ls of them sat with Reid’s party in the House, eight others, with Isaacs and Lyne. shared the Opposition benches with Labour. In June. 1905. Deakin withdrew his support from Reid and formed a new Ministry, and Isaacs became Attorney-General. This he held until October, 1906. when he was elevated to the High Court Bench, thereby ir was said, sacrificing the Prime Ministership. which would have been his in time. On the Bench his career was no less distinguished. His famous judgments had literary merit as well as close reasoning. and his forceful personality and wide knowledge of law caused them to b« received with the greatest respect. Sir Isaac became a Privy Councillor in 1912, and in 1924 was appointed a member of its Judicial Committee. In 1928 he received the K.C.M.G., and in April of this year, as senior Judge, became Chief Justice in succession to Sir Idrian Knox. FILLING the vacancy Received iDec. 4. 1u.5 p-m-SYDNEY. Dec. 4The question of appointing a Chief Justice of the High Court, owing to Sir Isaac Isaacs’ elevation to the Gov-ernor-Generalship is likely to stand over until the return of the Prime Minister. Three other vacancies in the High Court have not been filled since the death of Justices Higigns and Powers and the retirement of .Sir Adrian Ki.ox. former <’hiff Justice.