PACKED HALL.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXII, Issue 52, 3 March 1941, Page 8

PACKED HALL.

CHEERED TO ECHO. CROWDS ENTHUSIASM TRIBUTES TO LEADERSHIP.

Never before in the hi-tory of the city ii./s there been ptteli an entliu-iii.«tin and liimultllolls scene in the Auckland Town Hall as n\.is witnessed today when

tiion-aiids of citizens were present there

io take part in the civic reception to llie ilovernor-liciiiTal, Sir Cyril \ewall, and L.idy Neuall, who arrived in Auckland from Wellington yesterday morning to iiiako tlieir lirr-t oflieial \i-it.

From shortly after 11.30 o'clock the Town Hall began to fill and by the time liio ceremony bewail, shortly alter midday, every .-eat was taken and ccores of people were standing. The Vice-Kejral party followed the roiilo from (io\ eminent HuUs« by Lower I'iiiiees Street, Shortland Street ami iMieeu Street to the Town Hall where a naval guard of honour, provided by 100 men from 11.M.5. 'J'amaki, was drawn up. Tlio huge crowd on both sides of the -i reet \vu« kept back by tratlie. ollicers and police and jiiivr his Kxcellcncy a roueing reception when he alighted from the official car to inspect the guard.

Inside the Town Hall the stage was packed with ollieial visitors. Among those present were the J , lime Minister, the Hon. 1 , . K rawer , , the Hon. H. C. K. Mason, Minister of Justice; the lion. \V. !■;. Parry. Minister of Internal Affair.-; Mr. S. ti. Holland, Leader of the Oppo.-itinii. and tlic Kt. Hon. .L ("1. ('nates. a member of the War Cabinet. In addition the services were represented l>v Brigadier 1 , . H. Hell. Commander D. A. Bingley, Lieut entConimander J. ('. Klworthy mid WingCommander H. P. Burrell. Seats were reserved for over '200 delegates to the Municipal Conference, which opens tonight, and representatives also attended on behalf of churches of various denominations and public bodies LM'nei'iiil v -

Wild Enthusiasm. There were scenes of the wildest enthusiasm when the < lovernoi-fieneral unci Lady Newall, accompanied by the Mayor, Sir Krnest Davis, and other numbers i>f the ollieial party, entered tin: hall and walked down the aisle to lhe stage. In response to the cheers Sir Cyril on reaching his seat bowed to the audience before sitting down. \Vitli their Kxt-elleneics were \\ ingt onnnander H. C. Bo van, military secretary and comptroller, and Captain J. C. Holland-Martin, A.D.C.

Proceedimrs opened with the presentation of a bou<|iu-t to Lady Ncwall by Ihe Mayoress. Lady Duvis. on behalf ot the citizens of Auckland—an act that lrontrht further cheering from the huge audience. The Auckland Grammar School choir then sang the »»*'«"* anthem of New Zealand, '-(jod Detend New Zealand," before his Workup the ■ . ] (r . n)CC i the (jovernor-Ueneral and Lad'v Newall to the city. He then Msked Sir Cyril to accept an engrossed copy of the official welcome as a souvenir of the occasion.

At one stage during the proceedings the Prime Minister led the cheering which followed his Excellency • teferenee to the common bonds that bound all part* of the Empire together. At the request of Sir Ernest Davis, Mr Trevor Sparling, city organist, f.laved the Greek National Anthem, the JSEScJ .tiSng. and the ceremony concluded with the playing of God Save the King."

Mayor's Welcome. "In preferring our felicitations and .Meetings to your Excellencies may we be permitted to express the hope that your term of office in the Dominion will be of the happiest and to assure you o our confident belief that our people, wHI willingly do all in then-power tomato it so,"/aid the Mayor, Sir Erncet Davis, in his address of welcome. "The presence ot your family witn vou is greatly appreciated," he went on, "and it is our earnest trust that yiu will all find tho climatic conditions benecial and the educational and other facilities to your entire satisfaction. "It is perhaps hardly necessary for us to indicate that the citizens of Auckland will awhvaya be honoured by the residence of your Excellencies in tuc city and that on such occasions every effort will be made to enhance the pleasure of your stay in our midst. "You come to us as no stranger, Sir Krneet continued. "We have followed with absorbing interest your service career which led to your elevation to the highest rank within the gift of the Koyal Air Force. We shall remember with abiding gratitude your monumental achievements in creating for the Royal Air Force, a fighting unit whose daring, initiative and skill have not only captured the admiration of the entire world, but what is more, important, have stood ;is the bulwark between enemy aggression and the life and liberties of the British people. Your great leadership in thie direction hae been an inspiration to every part of the Empire and we feel we can assure you that the people of this Dominion value beyond measure the privilege conferred on them by your appointment as Governor-General of New Zealand.

"Your Excellency's experience and attainments in fields of Imperial activity will be of the utmost help to New Zealand in the part it is seeking to play, with other sections of the Empire, in ensuring ultimate victory to our arms and to those of our gallant Ally Greece, whose historic flag is associated with ours in the building to-day," he concluded, in expressing the hope that the sojourn of their Excellencies in Xew Zealand would b< , a happy one. "Spirit of Friendliness."

"I thank you most sincerely for the very cordial welcome which you have

extended to Lady Newal! and myself on

behalf of the corporation and citizens of thi-4 great city, and for your assurance to inc. as the representative of His Majesty the King, of their continued loyalty to the Throne," eaid His Kxcellency in reply to Sir Ernest Davis. "My wife and I thank you for your

good wishes to ourselves and to our

family. We are greatly encouraged by the spirit of friendliness with which we have been received by you, and we are looking forward with enthusiasm to the end, of April when we hope to occupy our

very delightful residence in your city and to li\e amount you with our children for several weeks.

"My wife at-ks me to thank you niu-i sincerely for your ospeeial ueleoinc to her, and to .-ay that .-he and the. children already recopni.-e how fortunate they arc in their new home.

"Your very kind reference io my t-r.v \ ice with tin: I'iiynl Air Force is jirctit I\ appreciated, an<l I can assure yon tlial any experience 1 may have gaine-d is at ail times unres-crvedly at tlic disposal ul His Majesty's Government in tin- Dominion of New Zealand," His F.Nccllo.nrv concluded. ".My confident hope is (hat. with God'.- help, we may a<-hie\c lin.ii \ ii-tory and u la .-ting jicace."'

"Jn town or country, throughout llie lrnpili and broadth of New Zealand, a welcome, of similar cordiality and in-tcn.-ity of feeling to that seen in thiremarkable gathering to-day awaits your K.\cellcncie.-. - ' said the L'riine Minister, Kt. Hon. P. Fraser. Jn an ad<lre.-s that, was punctuated throughout with applause lie sjiokt , of the service, career of the new Governor-tienerul and of the pleasure that his appointment had given the people of the. Dominion.

Mr. Fraser refcrrec , to the impre*>i(Hi> of New Zealand that had Iji-en given by the late (iovcrnor-d'eiieral. Lord d'ahvay, in an interview in Canada. He had impressed the. newspapermen uh lieinjr ninn , of a Xew Zoalandcr than an Kni:li-li-nian. He ha<l »]ioki'ii of the country, its scenic beauties, the enterpri-e of its cities and its thriving industries; but. above all the people, both pakcha ami Maori, had entwined llienii-elves round Lord (ialway'.s licart. "Before Sir Cyril and l.ady New all leave this country we hope they will achieve the same progression,' , slid tin; Prime Minister. "1 feel they are already on the way, for never in the history of

the Dominion have those who have come to represent His Majesty boon <••■ instantly and wholeheartedly rerohed and taken to the hearts of the people as they have been."' Painstaking Work.

'"In Sir Cyril we arc welcoming to-day a man who lias contributed enormously to the safety of th-e British Commonwealth of Nations, of New Zealand and of every one of us personally,' , continued Mr. Fra.-er. '"It was the painstaking work of he and his that resulted in the building up of an Air Foreo that was able to hurl back the unprecedented attacks of the (iennaii Air Force."

Speaking of Now Zealand's friend-hip with the United States, Mr. F laser said:

"We are about to make tluvc ties more. c!o>J and intimate. We feel it is essential that if righteousness and freedom are to triumph, our alliance with the United States should be of the closest. Here Sir Cyril has set a fine example.

for his wife was born in Boston, so already in the highest position in the

land has already been established that close union of the two countries which we have been trying to bring about."

"We welcome the new GovernorGeneral as a representative of the British people as well as the Crown, and

truly tliat is an honourable position. Never in the history of the world or of mankind did a people or a. race rise to greater heights than did the British people during the past 12 months. When we think how the people, from the King and Queen to the poorest of slumdwellers, have risen to the occasion, we are thrilled and moved to make the maximum effort. With such an example before them, the Maoris and pakehas of this country, to the last ounce of their energy and the last drop of their blood, are as determined as are the people of Great Britain."

"All Own Resources." Extending a welcome on behalf of the suburban local authorities in the metropolitan area of Auckland, Mr. I. J. Goldstine, president of the Suburban Local Bodies' Aseociation, said that although Auckland comprised a multiplicity of local authorities all were bound together in a common bond —the love of a beautiful city. In other words, he eaid, a metropolitan spirit pervaded the entire community and the citizens were united in'a desire to make Auckland a better and more beautiful place in which to work and live.

"In these stressful times, too, may I assure your Excellencies that Auckland is united with the rest of New Zealand both in spirit and in action, and is deeply imbued with a spirit of determination to co-operate, firstly in assisting the Motherland to the limit of our manpower, resources and efforts, and secondly, in defending our Dominion should ever that dire necessity arise," said the speaker.

"Coming straight from the heart of the Empire and having played so important a?id outstanding a part in the organisation of the heroic Air Force, which has gained so large a place in our affections, our welcome to you is all the wanner, for we realise the tremendous debt of gratitude we owe to you," added Mr. Goklstine.

■ Realising that the Crown of England, represented in New Zealand by Sir Cyril, was the symbol which bound the great British Empire together in one eternal brotherhood, Mr. Goklstinc said that the deep senee of love for, and loyalty to tho Throne of England was to-day firmer and stronger in the hearts of Xe\y Zealanders than ever it was. His Majesty's single-minded zeal ami his devotion to duty were an incentive to all his subjects.

Mr. Goklstine concluded by expressing tho hope that the Empire would emerge victorious from this war long before Sir Cyril's term of office expired so that, with lighter burdons, he might have an opportunity of enjoying to the full the beauties of the Dominion.

Other speakers were Mr. Heiulry Luke, chairman of the Auckland Harbour Board, and Mr. L. A. Eady, president of the Auckland Chamber of Commerce.