PM Transcripts

STATEMENT BY THE PRIME MINISTER IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
CONCERNING THE APPOINTMENT OF THE NEi GOVERNOR-GENERAL.
THURSDAY. 12th NOVIm'BER. 1959.
As Honourable Members know, our present Governor-
General, Field Marshal Sir William Slim, will be returning to
England towards the end of January next after what we all feel
to be a very distinguished term of office in our country. Before
he leaves we will have an opportunity of saying to him some of
those things that are in our hearts and minds and I will therefore
not anticipate them tonight.
The immediate purpose of my intervention is to say that
after communications with Her Majesty the Queen, orally when I
was in London and subsequently in writing, Her Majesty has been
graciously pleased on my advice as Australian Prime Minister to
name as the new Governor-General of Australia, the Right Honourable
William Shepherd Morrison, the retiring Speaker of the House of
Commons. MLr. Morrison has served as Speaker for nine years with
capacity and dignity and, as is well known, to the great satisfaction
of all political parties. He therefore has had a rich experience
in a great office which has called for marked ability and impartiality.
He was born and educated in Scotland. He served in the
First World War in the Royal Field Artillery. In the course of
his service, he was awarded the Mviilitary Cross; he was wounded
and he wns three times mentioned in despatches. He practised at
the English Bar from 1923. He became one of His Majesty's Counsel
in 1934. He entered the House of Commons where, between 1935 and
19) 5 he had considerable ministerial experience. He visited
Australia some years back as a member of the United Kingdom
Delegation to the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association which met
in New Zealand and subsequently had meetings in Canberra.
All who know him will agree with me that he is a man of
remarkable character and talent, of singular devotion to public duty,
and of a personality which will be widely appreciated in Australia.
I am, therefore, privileged to be able to inform the House that Her
Majesty is this evening announcing his appointment. I should add
without, I hope, impertinence, that Her Majesty is herself most happy
about the appointment, which has given her great personal satisfaction.
I should add that Her IMajesty has been pleased to raise
Mr. Morrison to the peerage under the name and style of VISCOUNT
DUNROSSIL. Canberra, 12th November, 1959.