The Press TUESDAY, JANUARY 22, 1935. The Duke Departs

Press, Volume LXXI, Issue 21378, 22 January 1935, Page 10

The Press TUESDAY, JANUARY 22, 1935. The Duke Departs

His Royal Highness the Duke of Gloucester, having completed a most arduous official programme in New Zealand, left Lyttelton yesterday to take a well-earned holiday in the north before returning to England. The Duke's memories of his visit to this Dominion must of necessity be rather confused at this stage, owing to the rapidity of his passage through the country; but one impression at least should already be clear-cut, for it has been pre-emin-ent throughout the Duke's tour, both in Australia and in New Zealand —that is, the whole-hearted loyalty to the Crown and unbounded zeal for things British which have everywhere been apparent. Even when Prince Henry has had time to adjust his impressions that should remain predominant. For the rest, he has seen sufficient of the life and work and spirit of the Dominion's people to assure him of their ability to create their own destiny, and of the resources of thccountry to indicate to him its prospects for still greater development and expansion as a rich and even powerful unit of the British Empire. He has seen, too, parts of New Zealand, which have not previously been seen by Royal visitors and has had opportunities of gaining iirsthand knowledge of some of the finest of our tourist attractions. This, of course, is all for the good of New Zealand, for unquestionably the Prince's visit to them will excite the interest of other overseas tour-' ists, who may want to follow in his footsteps. To that extent his Royal Highness can act, as his brothers have done before him, as an ambassador for the Dominion when he returns to his own home. We, on our part, owe a very sincere and deep debt of gratitude to the Duke of Gloucester for the honour that he has done us and for the extraordinary interest that he has taken in our affairs. With that devotion to duty which we have come to expect of the King's sons, he has not spared himself in the performance of the most arduous and exacting obligations of his strenuous tour. Those who have been responsible for it have had no light task and a word of tribute is due to them for the smooth running of its organisation. The honours that the King has conferred upon them are proof of his appreciation. When the Duke finally leaves the Dominion he will carry with him the sincere good wishes of our people. He may have some satisfaction in knowing that his own personality has contributed to and strengthened the warmth ot affectionate loyalty in which his father and the Royal Family are held.