GOVERNOR-GENERAL

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 50, Issue 135, 20 March 1930, Page 7

GOVERNOR-GENERAL

THE SWEARING-IN. A BRILLIANT CEREMONY. (Ler Press Association.) AA'EL LIXGTON, March 19. The grounds at Parliament House presented a scene bright with colour this afternoon, when the ceremony ot swearing-in Lord Hledisioe as Governor- (General took place. Kings Hew gaily in the breeze, and the warm sunshine showed the picturesque grounds at their best. The- ceremony, which took place strictly according to schedule, was witnessed by some thousands of people, and the scene was a brilliant one. On a dais on the steps of Parliament House accommodation had been arranged lor about oOU official guests, and on each side of the entrance steps seats were provided for some 200 other people to whom invitations had been sent. The guard of honour was from the Ist Wellington Regiment. Places of honour with Lord and Lady Bledisloe at the front of the platform were occupied by the Administrator (Chief Justice, Sir Michael Myers), the Hon. CL W. Forbes, representing the Prime Minister, and Air H. !). Thomson,'permanent head of the Prime Minister’s Department. Seated immediately behind were Aliss Gillespie (Government House staff). Airs A. C. Day, Airs Forbes, Lady Alyers, Airs B. B. Wood, Sir Alexander Herdinan (senior Judge in, attendance on the Chief Justice), Major Bathurst (military secretary to Lord Bledisloe), Air A. C. Day (official secretary) and Sir John Hanham and Lieutenant Elworthy, B.X. (aides do camp). Others seated on the platform were Ministers of the Crown, men occupying high official positions, members of Parliament, representatives of various public bodies, consuls, representatives of Government departments, etc., and their wives or daughters. As Lady Bledisloe mounted the d;;is she was presented by Airs B. B. Wood, daughter of the Prime Minister, .with a bouquet of flowers. 'Pile formal procedure of swearing-in the Governor-General designate was then commenced, the reading of the Koval warrant of appointment being followed l>y the taking of the oath of allegiance and the oath of office, administered bv Rir Alichael Alyers.

A salute of nineteen guns fired from Point Jerningliam, then proclaimed, the accession of Lord Bledisloe as Gover-nor-General of New Zealand. Mr Forbes’s Speech.

In welcoming Lord and Lady Bledisloe, the acting-Prime Alinister (the Hon. G. AY. Forbes) expressed regret at the absence of the .Prime Alinister. He conveyed a cordial welcome to their Excellencies on behalf of the Government and people of the Dominion, which had a warm affection for his Alnjesty the King. His Excellency would receive every consideration from the people of this country wherever he went. New Zealand had been fortunate with its Governors. Right from the days of Governor Hobson, Governors had done a great part in strengthening the bonds of Empire. The response New Zealand made when the Great War, broke out showed how lunch this country was attached to the A 1 other Country. He extended to their Excellencies a welcome from the Alaori people, who were as loyal as the pakelias. Nothing would give the Maoris greater pleasure than to he visited in their pas by their Excellencies. ' The fact that his Excellency took keen interest in the farming industry gave especial pleasure to New Zealanders.

The women of New Zealand, said Air Eorbes, .addressing her Excellency, would do their very host to make her feel at home and to compensate her for being so far from home. “\Ye feel,” Air Eorbes added, “that 'Lord Bledisloe in coming here has made a considerable sacrifice. He has done his duty to the British Empire, and we here will do all we can ter make his stay with us a pleasant and happy one.” Air Eorbes read the following message from the Commissioner of Rarotonga: “The auikis, chiefs and people ask you to convey to the GovernorGeneral a message of welcome and loyalty from the Cook Islands.” The King’s Message.

Thanking Mr Forbes for liis friendly, loyal and patriotic speech of welcome, Lord Bledisloe expressed regret at the absence . through indisposition of the veteran Prime Minister (Sir Joseph Ward), whose devoted services to New Zealand and the Empire were acknowledged without any distinction of party the world over. It was during the previous Prime Ministership of Sir Joseph Ward that New Zealand was raised to her proper status as a Dominion. His Excellency said that prior to leaving England he had been commanded by his Majesty the King to tell the people of New Zealand that his Majesty still had the happiest recollections of the time he spent in the Dominion twentynine years ago, recollections which had been revived by the more recent visits of the Prince of Wales and the Duke and Duchess of Vork, that he took the deepest personal interest in the welraie oC the Dominion and in the well being of all classes of its inhabitants, and earnestly prayed for its continued prosperity and progress. Lord Bledisloe added that in due course he would deliver his Majesty s messages to the Maoris and to the school children. He was pleased to be able to say that the King had completely.- :eeovered from his illness. Continuing Lord Bledisloc said that five years ago, on assuming office, Sir Charges Kergusson had expressed diffidence in following that renowned sailor, Viscount Jcllicoe. ‘What can ! say, asked his Excellency, “m taking up the position held by Sir Charles I'ergusson, a distinguished soldier ably seconded bv his gracious lady, who rightly earned your respect and affection by bis wide human sympathy, his sound judgment, untiring energy, and, above all, bv the ino]i ideals which have inspired all Ins words and actions? In endeavouring t> follow the path Sir Charles and Lady Mice Kergusson trod we both ask, ami feel confident we will receive, your sympathetic indulgence. Sir ( hurles and Laclv Kergusson came hack as ( old friends, the children of previous v.civernors. We come to you as entire strangers. We'have mnsuch family or personal associations. They came as S-ots to a country which has a considerable Scottish ' population, whose ■energy and enterprise are provcrbi.il the world over. 1 am not going to apologise to you for being an Englishman particularly as your racial statistics make it clear to me that more than half the population of New Zealand come of the same race. (Laughtei and applause.) Etlmologically 1 ma.\ however, be described as a representative of the United Kingdom, as m> father was English, my mot her was Scotch, mv wife is Welsh, and ] have • m Irish branch in my lauiily. (Renewed laughter). His Excellency acknowledged Hie references to Ins association with Jam cultivation and animal husbandry, ami added that it was in no'sense as a specialist that lie was embarking on liis new duties, and still less as a pro--

fessional authority in n country where conditions differed materially inm those existing in the MotbeiJand We come here.” his Excellency sa.u , conscious that wo have a great doa to learn, and with a pmlunnd desire to he helpful to the Dominion. I look forward with considerable pride to taking part in the administration of a. Dominion, which, in addition to its many attractions, ' can boast the highest standard of education, the lowest death rate and the largest trade turnover per head of population m the Empire, if not in 1 lie world.” His Excellency said that as representative of Ids Majesty the King it would Im liis ambition to foster harmony and co-operation between the Motherland and New Zealand, between New Zealand and other parts ol the Empire, and between all sections of New Zealand’s loyal community. “You have <bven us an inspiring welcome to what has been justly termed ‘God’s own country. his Excellency concluded. ' ! We come to share your joys and your sorrows, your home will be" our home, your interests will he our chief consideration, your highest .ideals we will endeavour to make our own, and if we cam succeed during our term m making other happy we shall indeed be happv ourselves.” (Applause.) At the call of Air Forbes more deafening cheers were given for their Excellencies.