CIVIC WELCOME.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 273, 17 November 1936, Page 8

CIVIC WELCOME.

LORD HARTINGTON. DISTINGUISHED VISITOR. \ CHARMED 1 WITH AUCKLAND. There was a representative gathering in the council chamber of the Town Hall (to-day, when a very cordial welcome was given to ithe Marquess of Hartington, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of Stato for Dominion Affairs, and tho Marchioness of Hartington, who have completed a brief tour of the Dominion, and are due to leave by the Awatea this evening for Sydney. "It is my honoured privilege and my great pleasure, to extend to you and to tho Marchioness of Hartington, on behalf of the corporation and citizens, a very cordial welcome to Auckland," said tho Mayor, Mr. Ernest Davis. "The high position of State which you occupy in Great Britain brings you daily into intimate touch with questions affecting tho welfare of our Dominion, and for that reason in particular we are delighted to have you among 11s to meet our people personally, and gain at first j hand knowledge of New Zealand conditions and requiremehts. To us the office you hold is necessarily the most important, because it provides the 1 channels of consultation through which all matters affecting our relationships' with the heart of the Empiro are' directed. It is not necessary for me to emphasise that the citizens of Auckland are unswerving in their affection to tho Motherland, and loyal to the core to the British constitution and the Crown of England, which serves as the most democratic of all links between constitution and people." : "It is our regret that your stay in Auckland is of such brief duration," concluded Mr. Davis. "We trust that at some future date you will have an opportunity of visiting us again. (Applause.) British System Best. The Postmaster-General and Minister of Defence, the Hon. F. Jones, said that he was pleased- to have the opportunity to join in the welconle to the distinguished guests. He had had the pleasuie during the past few days of being 111 their company travelling through the Waikato, and he had very much impressed with Lord Hartington s desire for knowledge and to learn all that he could. They all realised the value of having Lord Hartington 111 New Zealand. They had had the pleasure before of welcoming Mr. Malcolm MacDonald, Secretary of State, and they were pleased that Lord Hartington had come to New Zealand to get first-hand information. In future, when he received correspondence from the Dominion he would remember his stay in New Zealand. Mr. Jones said that there was a certain common -feeling between himsel and their visitor, as they both had to run the gauntlet of an election. It was evident that Lord Hartington had retained the confidence of CTie people, as he had been fourteen years in Parliament, and for two years had been Mayor of Buxton. No doubt Ins local body experience had been of great value to his work of a national character. It was regretted that the visitors' stay 111 New Zealand was so short, and they hoped that they would come back and spend a few more weeks in the Dominion. He hoped that they would carry away with them most pleasant memories of their visit. Irrespective of political opinion, they all believed that Great Britain had the best form of government, and it was the best form ot government for the British people fHcar, hear, and applause.) The visit would strengthen the ties with the Mother Country, and he hoped that they could return at the time of the centenary. On behalf of the Government of New Zealand he joined in the, welcome and hoped that the visitors would carry awav only the most pleasant memories of their stay in a fair land. (Applause.) "Loyal to a Man." The Mavor of Mount Eden, Mr. T. McNiib, extended a welcome on behalt of the outside Auckland local bodies, and said that the position that Lord Hartinrrton held called for wonderful tact and forbearance. New Zealand was loyal to a man, most of the people were born of •rood British stock and to them Great Britain was Home. They wanted their visitor to leave with the impression that New Zealand was part of the Old Country, and that the Empire could rely on New Zealand. A change had come over, and they could only have peace by. being prepared for it. They wanted Lord Hartington to return and tell his colleagues that New Zealand would not change in its regard for the Mother Country. Professor F. P. Worley spoke as the representative of the Royal Empire Society, and said that their guest was doubly welcome to Auckland. He was tho representative of a noble family which for hundreds of years had given service to the country and Empire, and it had been service mainly for freedom. There were many threads which bound the Empire togethet, and there was a link with the <_Jice through societies such as* the Royal Empire Society. New Zealand had ties with BriI tain which were very strong through I sentiment,

Auckland a Fortunate City.

Lord. Hartington was received witli sustained applause when lie rose to reply. Ho returned deep thanks for the great \velcome which had been given him and his wife and said that it was very much appreciated. He regretted very much that his stay in the Dominion had been so short. He regarded Auckland as a very fortunate city, with a very beautiful harbour. Auckland had been very fortunate in its gifts to the city, and tho gardens he had seen would equal anything in the world. Last evening after a function lie had visited the top of Mount Eden and the myriad lights reflected in tho waterways "was a sight never to be forgotten. Lord, ITartington said that lie had a very high regard for Sir James Parr and ho regretted that he would not be in Auckland to take part in the welcome to him, as it would be a nice change welcoming somebody else. (Laughter and applause.) Reference had been made to his civic life in England. He had been Mayor of a small and new borough which had 0110 pq.int of resemblance with Auckland, in that it was of volcanic origin. There was a great deal in New Zealand which they could do well to copy in the Old Land, and although they had started much longer ago there ■was much that they could emulate. Personally ho had had a wonderful time in New Zealand and had enjoyed every moment of it. New Zealand "was famed for its hospitality, and it was justly famed. Everywhere they had received the warmest of welcomes. Lord Ilartington said that the subject of defence had been mentioned, and it had been inspiring to see that the subject was occupying the minds of the people of New Zealand. It was an eloquent fact that New Zealand had almost complete immunity. The conditions in Europe were far from settled, and he welcomed what New Zealand was doing to make her defences more secure so that they could be of assistance to the Old Country if the occasion arose. He believed, however, that as long as the Old Country and the Empire were united, the necessity would not arise. They were taking up the burden of- arms, and it was a heavy burden. It was not in a spirit of militarism, but because they realised the necessity .of being prepared if they valued peace and liberty. Problem Being Tackled. I . They had to be ready to preserve their institutions; he hoped that that necessity would never arise, but if they were not prepared the liecessitv might arise. Ho was very glad to see that the New Zealand Government was tackling the problem'in the proper way. (Applause.) At the close of the reception the "National Anthem" was sung. After the function the visitors were the guests at a luncheon given by the Mayor, Mr. Ernest Davis, at the Grand Hotel.