KING AND QUEEN SAIL FOR CANADA TO-DAY.

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 105, 6 May 1939, Page 7

KING AND QUEEN SAIL FOR CANADA TO-DAY.

PLANS FOR SEND-OFF. Farewell Salutes By Navy And Air Force. PREMIER SAYS GOOD-BYE. British Official Wireless. (Received 3 p.m.) RUGBY, May 5. The King has directed the issue of letters patent under the Great Seal of, the Realm, delegating to the Councillors of the State Royal function during his absence in Canada and the United States. The Councillors of State to whom Royal functions may now be delegated are the Queen, tlie Duke of Gloucester, tlie Duke of Kent, the Princess Royal, and Princess Arthur of Connaugiit. Tlie Queen is included in the Council of State under the Regency Act of 1!K!7 even though absent, in Canada. The signatures of any two members are requisite to regularise documents. Tlie Council's duty is to do any matter or tiling aii|,earing necessary and expedient to tlie interests, safety and good Government of tlie Realm, including Orders-in-Council and documents concerning State affairs submitted by Secretaries of State. Tlicir powers exclude tlie dissolution of Parliament, tlie granting of peerages, tlie bestowal of honours on account of which tin? birthday honours on .lime S must lie sent to Canada for the King's approval. The last Council was during the illness of King George V., 1028-2(1. and included the Archbishop of Canterbury, tlie Lord Chancellor, and the Lord President of the Council. Tl* King had a farewell audience with Mr. Chamberlain, and His Majesty and tlie president of the Privy Council cleared up other matters in preparation for tlie departure of the Royal party. Red Ensign on Liner. The Kmpress of Australia will sail with tlie He<l Knsiun at her eJisign mast, but immediately Their Majesties board her to-morrow afternoon this flag will be hauled down and replaced bv the White Ensign. It is believed this Is the first occasion that a merchant vessel has llown tlie "White" when not commissioned. She i« flying the White Ensign because it is the only flag which, from the point of view of etiquette, can be worn with tlie Lord High Admiral's flag, which will be flown from the liner's fore masthead. In addition she will have the Royal Standard at tlie main masthead and the Canadian Pacific house flag at her jackstaff—-a fact which is accepted as a great compliment. The battle-cruiser Repulse will join the escort of tlie cruisers Southampton and Glasgow for the first part of tlie journey. Later she will talke farewell of tlie Royal ship and return to duty near home. The presence of the Repulse will lessen to some extent the disappointment of the officers and crew, and will add expressiveness to the departure of the Royal party. The Southampton and the Glasgow will continue to escort the Empress of Australia across the Atlantic. Early to-morrow morning the flagship Xelson will lead) units of the Home Fleet to sea from Portland to salute lheir Majesties. With the Xelson will be tlie sister ship, (lie Rodney. i he Ark Royal wil' also lie with tlie Fleet, and her squadrons of aircraft will dip in salute as they fly in formation by the Empress (if Australia. The cruisers Newcastle and Sheffield, sister ships of the escort cruisers, will be in the lines through which Their Majesties will pass. The Aurora, the flagship of tlr: rear-admiral commanding the destroyers, will lead ten destroyers in line. As Their Majesties say good-bye to the receding shores of England", the Navy will salute them with a long rumble of their guns, firing the Royal salute. A programme of visits to be paid bv the Southampton and the Glasgow have been published. Both cruisers will be at Quebec from May 15 to May 10, at New York from May 24 to May 3l', at Halifax from June 9 to June 15, and at Conception Bay lo June 17, arriving back in the United Kingdom on June 22, but the Southampton will be at Boston from June 1 to June 0, and the Glasgow at St. John's, New Brunswick from June 2 to June 8.

Their Majesties will return (save a cable message) aboard the Empress of Britain.