DUKE'S SPEECH.

Auckland Star, Volume LVIII, Issue 108, 10 May 1927, Page 7

DUKE'S SPEECH.

Empire's New Strength and Meaning. LANDMARK IN HISTORY. SYDNEY, May 9. Speaking from the steps of Parliament House, after the opening ceremony, the Duke referred to to-day's events as a landmark in the history of Australia. He said they marked not only the opening of the new Parliament House and the inauguration of the new capital city, but more. His father, His Majesty King George, had desired to mark the importance of the opening of the first meeting of the Federal Parliament at the new capital of the Commonwealth of Australia, and to show his keen interest in all that concerned the welfare and advancement of his subjects in Australia. Consequently the King had granted him a special commission to act as his representative in performing to-day's ceremony. His Royal Highness said he was commanded by the King to say that his thoughts were with them in this hour. To-day's historic occasion brought back to the King vivid memories of May 9, 20 years ago, when, as the Duke of Cornwall and York, he had opened the first Parliament of the Commonwealth. "Because one feels the stirring of a new and quickening national activity and of a fuller consciousness of your destiny as one of the self-governing units of the British Empire," said the Duke, "one's thoughts turn instinctively to what the future may have in store. Noble Army of the Dead. "One's own life would hardly be worth living without its dreams of better things, and the life of a nation without such dreams of a better and a larger future would be poor indeed. "Standing here and looking over the beautiful site chosen for the Federal capital, I think of those great men who worked for a Federated Australia, and whose aim was realised when my father opened the Federal Parliament. We are now building on the foundation thev laid. * "I think we should all have in our hearts one other vision. On Anzac Day we commemorated those gallant men and women who laid down their lives in the war. "Though they have passed into the Great Beyond, they are still speaking to those who choose to listen, and if Australia listens to the voices of the noble army of the dead, and if the great army of the living, and those yet unborn," are determined to march in step with their faces toward the ideals for which those men and women died, then the glorious destiny of this country is assured for all time." It was perhaps peculiarly fitting that they should celebrate the birth of this new capital city just after the close of the Imperial Conference which represented the Leginnning of a new chapter in the Empire's story. "May this day's ceremony mark a rededication of this Commonwealth to those great ideals of liberty, fair dealing, justice and devotion to the cause of peace for which the Empire and all its members stand," said the Duke. "We turn to-day a new page in our history. May it be a page glorious for Australia and for the whole Empire." The King's Message. At the conclusion of his speech in the Senate Chamber, the Duke read the following message from the King:— Our thoughts are more than ever with you on this day of happy memory to me and to the Queen. On this occasion of signal importance in the history of Australia I ask you to assure our people of the Commonwealth of my heart-felt wishes for their happiness and progress. I share their pride in their new capital, and I join in their prayers for their successful future. A parade by the naval, military and iir forces provided a great finale for the lay's ceremonies. A most impressive ight was a display of regimental colours >earing the names of the battles in which he Australian units had participated. As the colour parties bearing the king's and the regimental colours passed he saluting base, thousands of onlookers 'aid tribute as they stood in silence with >ared heads in memory of the dead. After the Duke had taken the salute •he troops advanced in review order, iroviding an impressive finish to a nemorable day. It is estimated that there were 85,000 mlookers, who gave the Duke and )uchess a stirring reception. His Royal lighness looked well on horseback, and nanaged a spirited charger in a fashion vhich drew applause from the spectators. Crowds gathered in different parts of ■Sydney to hear the broadcast description )f the opening ceremony, but the reproluction of the speeches was faulty, and he account, which was given out by an imateur instead of by the professional mnouncer, was very prosaic, and lacking n colour contrast and life.