An interesting White Paper has been issued dealing with the
demand of five of the six Australian States— Victoria stands out—that in future State Governors should be Australians. The Labour Premiers who make the demand point out that they do not desire to relax the ties between their States and Great Britain ; indeed, they emphasize the fact that it is because they value them that they incidentally desire for Australians the honour of being appointed by the King to represent him. The chief practical reason for appointing Australians is, of course, economy. All Englishmen nowadays take it for granted that Australians must decide such matters for themselves. But it must be added that even as things are there is no limitation of choice in appointing a Governor. If opinion in Australia ran clearly and con- sistently in favour of Australian Governors, Australians would be appointed. The difficulty is that there is much disagreement in Australia. Many Australians dread the appointment of Governors who could hardly be both impartial and of conspicuous experience in the Commonwealth. In these circumstances it would seem to be premature, not to say essentially unwise, to change the State Constitutions. Mr. Amery has presented the case against the proposed change very ably.
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