NOVEL WELCOME

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 59, Issue 198, 5 June 1939, Page 5

NOVEL WELCOME

REAL COUNTRY FAIR. ALONG ROUTE OF PROCESSION. LOYALTY TO HIS MAJESTY. iUnited Press Association —Copyright.) MELVILLE, June 3. The special correspondent of the Australian Associated Press says that Saskatoon provided a novel welcome for their Majesties to-day. A real country fair was spread along the 11 miles route of the procession. Farm implements, truck-loads of grain and dairy produce, pens of horses and cattle, sheep and pigs lined the streets. To tho cheers of ISaskatoon’s 45,000 citizens and 100,000 prairie visitors, as their Majesties drove by, was added a remarkable babel of startled squeals, grunts, moos and drumming lioofbeats. Added significance was given the wonderful reception their Majesties arc receiving everywhere on tho prairies, because a big proportion of the population in these parts is foreignborn. Mr Carl Niderost, Mayor of Saskatoon, gave their point of view in an address of welcome. He said: “Your loyal subjects here in many cases come from countries not under your rule. They have come, however, to know and appreciate the blessings of that freedom and liberty which, under tho wise guidance of her sovereigns, the British Empire has provided in ever-increasing measure—freedom and liberty for which an outstanding number in this province heeded the call of their country 20 years ago, and .for which they would fight again should it be necessary.” Cheering throngs to-day included Doukhobors, a stubborn Russian sect which has found refuge on the prairies, also numbers of Germans, including recent arrivals from Sudetenland. At the Touchwood reservoir 15,000, mostly Ukrainians, many in national dress, entwined bunting in barbedwire fences and decorated the reservoir. Prairie folk everywhere flocked to the railway line. At Artland, with a normal population of 35, more than 5000 gathered including trappers and miners from 350 miles north. . At Unity 10,000 cheered the passing train. A two-mile string of freight cars provided a grandstand when the Royal train arrived at Melville at 10 ip.m. to spend the night on a siding. Iheii Majesties found 75,000 cheering and waving flags. CROWD GETS OUT OF HAND. , . ,'u .... • . . . © KING AND QUEEN JOSTLED. VISIT TO VETERANS’ HOSPITAL. EDMONTON, June 2. The special correspondent of the Australian Associated Press says that for the first time during the Royal tour a crowd got out of hand to-day and forced Their Majesties to cut short their visit to the hospital. Eighty beds containing returned soldiers were wheeled to tho front of the building. Their Majesties, driving by, noticed them and told the chauffeur to stop. When they started to walk among the beds thousands swarmed into the grounds. The police were unable to control them. Finally tho Queen asked her escort to take her to the car. In a mad rush •the King and Queen were jostled aim pushed. Their Majesties were later invited to stand at tho foot of the bed of a legless veteran, who jocularly remarked that he was only using part of tho bed.

The Queen asked one veteran, “how long have you been here?” He replied: “I was wounded in 1914, Your Majesty. I’ve been in this bed ever since I got home.”

The Queen said nothing, but took a flower from her bouquet, which had been presented' to her, and laid it in his hand.