STILL BOUND TO BRITAIN

Press, Volume CVII, Issue 31542, 2 December 1967, Page 42

STILL BOUND TO BRITAIN

(New Zealand Press Association)

WELLINGTON, December 1.

Although New Zealand had reached maturity and had come of age internationally, it was still bound by interest, kinship, sentiment and tradition to Britain and the Commonwealth, the Prime Minister (Mr Holyoake) said today.

Making his official speech of welcome to the new GovernorGeneral (Sir Arthur Porritt), Mr Holyoake said: “Your office of Governor - General is one of the structural members holding our family of nations together.

“We are still devoted to Her Majesty because she is our Queen, the Queen of New Zealand, and because, as Sovereign, she symbolises the Commonwealth. “We all know you will give distinguished service in this office as you have in your other activities.” Welcome, Sir Arthur and Lady Porritt on behalf of the Government and people of New Zealand, Niue and the Tokelau Islands, Mr Holyoake said: “Although you have lived in Britain for more than 40 years, your illustrious record in medicine, surgery and sport has made your name a household word here.” The Prime Minister told the new Governor-General he would notice many changes which had taken place in New Zealand since he left in 1923. “New Zealand is no longer a group of islands living partly unto themselves and partly unto Britain,” he said.

“We retain all our old traditional relations with the Motherland and other countries, but now look outward to Asia and the Pacific,” he said.