Gamblers Vexed

For weeks sporting Canadians have been organizing a sweepstake on the man who was going to be appointed their new Governor General. Of course a "dark horse" might win, but bets were laid with confidence on the following "field" (purely unofficial of course): George V's second son, the Duke of York; the Marquess of Linlithgow (the "favorite"), the Earl of Athlone. the Earl of Cromer, the Duke of Abercorn and the Marquess of Londonderry.

Perhaps because he detests gambling, Prime Minister Richard Bedford Bennett, rich & pious, kept the name of the man he had ''advised" George V to appoint Governor General a dead secret. Last week this darkest of horses romped home a winner, sorely vexed Canadian sweepstakers. Darkest horse: Vere Brabazon Ponsonby, 9th Earl of Bessborough.

The only "real reason" Canadians could think of for this choice is that the Earl is a good friend of Mr. Bennett. Other reasons: 1) the Ponsonbys are a family long in the service of Britain's'Royal family, and George V, after having had to appoint a "native" whom he had never seen Governor General of Australia (TIME, Dec. 15), has been most eager to send a British blue-blood to Canada. Lady Bessborough is French, the daughter of the late Baron Jean de Neutlize, and so arc many Canadians more or less French.

Although he has had no experience in Colonial government the Earl of Bessborough has had almost every sort of business experience with the 35 corporations of which he is a director. He is in diamonds, explosives, radio, banking, railroads, life insurance, subways.

His chief job is that of board chairman, since 1921, of the Sao Paulo (Brazil) Railway. Thus he brings to Canada important contacts "down under," may do as much to get the Dominion-Latin American trade as the "Empire Salesman" is doing on his tour (see p. 20). Darkest Horse Bessborough is in diamonds as deputy board chairman (since 1924) of the South African De Beers Consolidated Mines.

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