KING’S MESSAGE

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 55, Issue 272, 30 August 1935, Page 3

KING’S MESSAGE

REPLY TO LOYAL ADDRESS.

FIRST DIRECT PERSONAL COMMUNICATION.

(Special to the “Guardian.”)

WELLINGTON, August 29

A personal communication from his Majesty the King was received by the House of Representatives to-day, and read to members by the Speaker, Sir Charles Statham. This is the first time in the history of the New Zealand Parliament that a message lias, been received direct from the King—in the past all communications have come through the Secretary of State for the Dominions, and earlier, of course, through the Secretary tor the Colonies. 1

To-day message was forwarded by the King through his personal representative in New Zealand, Lord Galway. The manner in which the letter was received is considered to be of some constitutional significance, and a direct indication of the higher status of the Dominion as a unit of the Empire. The text of to-day’s message, sent in reply to the address from the New Zealand Parliament on the occasion of the jubilee, was as follows:

Members of the Legislative Council and the House of Representatives of New Zealand: I am deeply grateful for the loyal and affectionate greetings contained in the address presented to me by my Prime Minister of the Dominion of New Zealand at St. James’ Palace on May 8. On that historic day, when representatives of my Dominions overseas assembled to offer to the Queen and myself their congratulations and good wishes, I endeavoured to express in this family gathering of the Empire my joy and pride in the united affection of my peoples. The 25-years during which I have reigned over you have been a period of stress, and each year on Anzac Day New Zealand honours in solemn remembrance the courage and steadfastness displayed by the flower of her manhood in the time of the war. The years of peace have also brought their difficulties, and New Zealand has had her full share of suffering in the recent time of economic stress, but I am proud to think that her sons and daughters have faced those problems with the same undaunted courage.

As Mr Forbes recalled in his speech on May 8, changes in the realm of science have brought me and my people in New Zealand into closer communication with each other, but I know from the visit which tile Queen and I paid to. the Dominions, and from the visits in more recent years of my sons, that we are, and always have been, close to each other in spirit and affection. New Zealand will take her place with the other partners in fulfilling their great task of co-operation in promoting the ideals of the British Empire. Let us dedicate ourselves anew in a mutual endeavour to solve the problems of peace, as ‘together we met the problems of Avar. I thank you for your good wishes to the Queen and myself, and I pray for the blessing of God on my people in New Zealand, that they may live in happiness, prosperity, and peace.— George R.I.