DUKE OF GLOUCESTER

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 87, Issue 272, 17 November 1943, Page 5

DUKE OF GLOUCESTER

GOVERNOR-GENERAL OF AUSTRALIA APPOINTMENT ANNOUNCED BY MR. CURTIN

(By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright) Recd. 6 p.m. Sydney, Nov. 16. The Duke of Gloucester, the King’s younger brother, has been designated Governor-General of Australia in succession to Lord Gowrie, whose term of office has been extended to July 21, 1944.

The Duke will be the first brother of a reignin.g King to serve as Gov-ernor-General in any Dominion. Lord Gowrie has been Commonwealth Gov-ernor-General of Australia since 1936.

“Australians will be deeply appreciative of His Majesty s action in appointing a member oi the Royal Family to be Governor-General oi Australia,” said Mr. J. Curtin, in making the announcement. “All in this country will look forward with affectionate and loyal interest to the arrival again in Australia of His Royal Hignness.”

The DuKe oi Gloucester visited Australia and New Zealand in 1934. His brother, the late Duke of Kent, was appointed Commonwealth GovernorGeneral in 1939, but did not take up his duties because of the war. He was killed in an aircraft crash last year.

The official statement does not indicate whether the Duches oi Gloucester will arrive in Australia with the Duke. However, it is asumecl that she will come to Australia, though the dangers of wartime travel may prevent her arrival with the Duke. An indication of the date when the Duke is likely td arrive in Australia cannot be given, as the release of such information would obviously increase the risks of his journey. Negotiations lor the Duke’s appointment had been in progress since just after the Federal elections in August.

Mr. Curtin's announcement has been hailed with the greatest enthusiasm. The Sydney Morning Herald to-day says editorially that the Duke's appointment gives immense gratification to the people of Australia and reaffirms the supreme importance of lhe Crown as tne centre and symbol of Empire unity. “Nor will it be overlooked,” adds the paper, “that an Australian Labour Ministry, despite traditional party predilections ior a native-born appointee, should have sponsored tne proposal for a Royal Vice-Regent. These are signs of the times—times of great peril and great stress —in which tbe peoples of the British Commonwealth of Nations have instinctively drawn still nearer together.”