NEW GOVERNOR

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 61, Issue 113, 22 February 1941, Page 6

NEW GOVERNOR

ARRIVAL AT WELLINGTON. GREETED AT RAILWAY STATION OFFICIAL AND PQPULAR X WELCOME. (Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON,. This Day. Marshal of the Royal Air Force Sir Cyril New all, the new Governor-General of New Zealand, and Lady 'Newall and fafffily Arrived this morning in brilliant weather, the train aMving at the platform promptly on the schedule time of 8-.55, o’clock. The Administrator (Sir Michael Myers), who was .accompanied by the-Clerk of the Executive Council, entered the Vice-Regal carriage' and greeted Sir Cyril Newall. The station platform was decorated with flags and' a red carpet led to the edge of the platform, beyond which was \ drawn up a guard of honour fropi the Army School at Trentham and -the Royal New Zealand Air Force. Just after 0 o’clock the Prime Minister (the Rt: Hon. Peter Fraser) entered the carriage and shortly afterwards Sir Cyril Newall set foot iii Wellington. He was received with the Royal salute, following which he and the Administrator and the chiefs of staffs inspected the guard while the Air Force Band played' in slow I 'measure the Maori melody “E Pari Ra.” After the inspection Mr Fraser presented to Sir Cyril Newall and Lady Newall Ministers of the Crown and their wives ,the High Commissioners for the United Kingdom and: their wives, members of the Legislative Council and the House of Representatives, and their wives, the chiefs of staffs and the Commissioner of Police. The ceremony at the station closed with the Royal Balute. All these proceedings were watched from outside by an interested public which gathered also at the vehicle exits and cheered as the cars left. The party went to the Citizens’ War Memorial, where Sir Cyril Newall was presented to representatives of the Wellington and New Zealand Returned Soldiers’ Association and placed a wreath. Sir Cyril Newall was then driven to the Town Hall and introduced by Mr Fraser to the Mayor and Mayoress (Mr and Mrs T. 0. A. Hislop). The ceremony there was informal, the Mayor introducing Councillors and their wives and the chief officers of the Council. A quarter of an hour later Sir Cyril Newall and Lady Newall, who was carrying a bouquet of gladioli, drove to Government House, accompanied by spontaneous cheers from people gathered outside the Hall. PREMIER EXTENDS WELCOME

WISHES' FOR A HAPPY STAY WELLINGTON, Tuis Day. Air Fraser, extending a welcome on behalf of the Government and people, assured Sir Cyril and Lady Newhll of the most earnest desire that their stay in New Zealand might be happy. They would find the people imbued with all the characteristics, spirit and highest tradition of the British race. Men and women were inspired with the fervent wish to share to the' full with their kinsfolk in the United Kingdom and elsewhere in the task of defending lives and liberties and in preserving Christian civilisation and the democratic way of life. The Prime Afinister took the opportunity of stating that we appreciated more than words could tell the splendid inspiring example of their M'ajesties the King and Queen', who were willingly and courageously sharing all. the dangers to which the heroic people of Britain w'ere exposed. ; Mr Fraser said that New Zealand had eihbarhed upon the war effort with firm determination to strain every fierve and sinew, and to spare no sacrifice to make its contribution the fullest and most effective within its power. (He assured his Excellency that New Zealand faced the future with no other feelings but those of full confidence in ultimate victory in this grave, critical hour. It was a matter of great satisfaction that a Governor-General with so distinguished a record should have come to live in our midst in New Zealand. It was mjost appropriate in the present circumstances that the representative of the King should come from the armed services and from amongst the most conspicuous of those who had given such iffisinted services to- the Empire during the present conflict. “AVe count ourselves singularly fortunate on this occasion that New Zealand should have as Governor-General airman of such exceptional experience, one whose profound knowledge of the problems of modern warfare in all its phases commands the very highest respect, and one whose achievement in building up the Royal Air Force until it has become the finest in the -world commands the undying gratitude' of the British people,” said Mr Fraser. The Prime Alinister said the welcome was extended on behalf of both, races, Maori and iPakeha, stressing how they were bound together in a. common destiny and freely united once agaiil in offering their blood in the defence of democratic ideals.