LORD WILLINGDON.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 17, 20 January 1940, Page 11

LORD WILLINGDON.

SERVICE TO EMPIRE. DISTINGUISHED RECORD. ARRIVAL AT WELLINGTON. (By Telegraph.*—Press Association.) T\ -LLLIXGTOX, this day. One of the most notable representatives of His Majesty in British overseas countries and one who has given distinguished service to the Empire as Governor-General of Canada and Viceroy of India, the Marquess of Willing. :lon arrived at Wellington yesterday ifte.rnoon in the flying boat Aotearoa to represent the United Kingdom Government at the Dominion's Centennial celebrations. '.I lie fact that the Aotearoa was to irrive in Wellington was not made public until tlie afternoon. As a re.sult the crowd that gathered at Evans Bay was not as large as would otherwise liave been the case. There were, however, several thousands people around the foreshore anil many cars were parked 011 vantage points* on the hills. Welcoming Lord and Lady Willingdon. Mr. M. A. Eliott, chairman of the Wellington Harbour Board, said that almost 100 years before to-day pioneers had arrived at Wellington after a voyage of three months from Kngland. When that was compared with Lord and Lady Willingdon's trip of a few days it made one realise what a wonderful transformation had taken place. Apart from head winds, which made the flight slower than usual, the trip was uneventful. The Aotearoa left Sydney at (>.!."> a.m. Xew Zealand time, and the oflieial arrival time at Wellington was given as 4.2.1 p.m. "My position is that 1 am representing His Majesty's Government here at the Centennial/' Lord Willingdou said 1 in an interview last evening. "It was 1 anxious to send somebody out to show , its interest in this great celebration." i "Magnificent Unity." Asked whether hev thought the Empire • could como more united out of the present war than ever before, he replied: •'I don't think that is possible. I think '• it has shown magnificent unity and that ( is most enormously satisfying to one. who, like myself, has done the best part 1 of his service in outside parts of the J Empire. It was the greatest pleasure J to me, as an old Imperial servant, at tlm outbreak of this war to see the absolutely united co-operation which 1 came from all parts of the Empire." Referring to India, he said people . would read in the Pre?s certain statements by Gandhi with regard to his requirements as to its constitutional future which might incline people to think there was some considerable disloyalty in India. "Well I am perfectly clear in this that the vast majority of Indians arc absolutely loyal to the Crown. That is clearly shown bv the number of troops who have already gone overseas and the very large sums of msney that are being subscribed by the princes and people, of India to assist the Empire. I lived in India for 10 years and I have no doubt about the loyalty of India." Invited to comment on reports that he might accept a post as GovernorGeneral in Australia or Xew Zealand, Lord Willingdou said lu\ had reached the mature age of 73 years and that idea had never come into his mind, and lie was quite sure also it had never come into the mind of the Government. "No War More Just." Of the. ultimate outcome of the war he said he had not a doubt, because lie had never known a war more just than the one the Allies were engaged in now and in which they were, lighting for no material advantage, but to defend the rights of small nations against the I brutal methods of powerful countries which they had seen during past months. "We are so much better prepared now, both 011 the economic side and 011 the military side, than we were in 1914 that I have very little doubt of the ultimate result, which will be to restore peace and goodwill to the nations of the world." This is not Lord' Willingdon's first visit to Xew Zealand. In the 'nineties, when he was A.D.C. to the then Governor of Victoria, Lord Brassev, he spent several months in Xew Zealand on holidav. "1 then saw some of the lovely beauty spots of Xew Zealand and i hope I shall see many of them again this time. I am afraid I shall have 110 chance of enjoying the lighter forms of amusement, but 1 hope to see more of the beauties of this country. I am going to do as much as 1 can to follow out what the Government of Xew Zealand wants me to do. I don't think I shall be here more, than a fortnight." Lord Willingdou is accompanied by the Marchioness of Willingdou and by his private secretary, Lord Ellington.