FAREWELL TO LORD BLEDISLOE

Dominion, Volume 28, Issue 121, 15 February 1935, Page 13

FAREWELL TO LORD BLEDISLOE

Ceremony at Wanganui EUROPEAN AND MAORI PEOPLE JOIN Rousing Haka By Natives Dominion Special Service. Wanganui, February 14. Wanganui’s farewell to their Excellencies Lord and Lady Bledisloe took the form of a big open-air gathering to-night on Cook’s Gardens, in which the European and Maori populations joined. The full endorsement of the high degree of popularity in which their Excellencies are held was shown by the crowded terraces. Maoris from Putiki and Parikino, well over a hundred strong, and garbed in the ceremonial dress of old, resorted to the spectacular tribal method of saying farewell. Vociferous haka and quaintly blended poi vied with each other to convey the affection of the Maori people of this district to the departing Governor-General and his lady. A guard of honour was provided by the Collegiate School cadets and at the function on Cook’s Gardens their Excellencies were presented with an illuminated address by the Mayor, Mr. N. G. Armstrong. The chairmen of the two neighbouring counties and representatives of the Maori race were associated with the presentation. LOVE OF BEAUTIFUL His Excellency’s Reply to Farewell 1 i FOLLY OF SEPARATISM By Telegraph—Press Association. Wanganui, February 14. “In five years’ time New Zealand will be celebrating her centenary. She will have emerged definitely from youth into manhood, with a full consciousness of the spiritual enrichment, the happiness of soul and mind which flows from a cultivation of a love of the beautiful. No city in the Dominion has more strikingly demonstrated this consciousness and nowhere in any city in the Southern Hemisphere is there an institution comparable with your Sarjeant Gallery,” said his Excellency the Governor-General, Lord Bledisloe. at the civic farewell tendered himself and Lady Bledisloe at Wanganui tonight. His Excellency thanked the citizens for their beautiful illuminated address, which he said would always be a happy reminder of the loyalty and personal friendliness of the inhabitants of the city and district. “Education is the most priceless boon that any country can confer upon its people,” Lord Bledisloe continued. “New Zealand has been generous in this respect. No country in the world expends a larger proportion of its revenue upon education. If full value is to be obtained for it, its objects should always be borne in mind, to develop and beautify human character, to promote health of mind and body, to fit the youth of the nation for remunerative and wholesome employment, and to provide for the enjoyment of the fullest possible life that is consistent with material resources.” Love of Beautiful Fatherland. “Each school or college should ask itself whether it fully complies with this specification and, if not, be enterprising and courageous enough to alter its . curriculum accordingly. Among other valuable subjects of instruction nature study should not be forgotten, as calculated to promote a love of a beautiful fatherland and develop a capacity for constant observation.” Lord Bledisloe said that scenic beauty was among New Zealand’s most valuable assets. Late in the day there was a dawning consciousness among New Zealanders that their country possessed a wealth of scenic splendour and variety unparalleled throughout the world.- One of the most priceless scenic treasures was the Wanganui River. Not only should the country’s natural endowment be safeguarded against vandalism and spoliation in the supposed interests of tansient economic advantage, not only snould it be a medium of inspiration and mental tonic to the inhabitants of the Dominion, but it should be a source of ever-increasing prosperity derivable from the tourist industry. It was safe to say that no country of the same size in the world had more to show its visitors and none which was so modest in advertising and turning to commercial advantage its incomparable attractions. “Quality Will Tell Its Tale.” In a brief reference to industry and farming his Excellency said economic tribulation had for three years overwhelmed the world, accentuated by the folly qf universal economic nationalism or separatism—a folly which, however unconvincing, compelled imitation in the avoidance of national bankruptcy. This tribulation had been particularly acute in the Dominion. But both economic adversity and the separatist policy which it had evoked were transient world factors which should not shake the mental equilibrium of wise men or materially affect the continued prosecution of their several avocations, provided always that a high standard of achievement was aimed ’at and maintained. In a highly competitive world quality would always tell its tale and in the case of food products there would always be a market for the best. The best must not be an occasional best, but a uniform best. Any empire trade policy which put a premium upon mediocrity and a discount upon excellence was doomed to ultimate failure. MASSEY COLLEGE THANKS Interest in Agriculture Research By Telegraph.—Press Association Palmerston North, February 14. The Massey College Council to-day placed on record its appreciation of the services which Lord Bledisloe has given to agricultural industries in New Zealand as a whole and Massey College in particular. It also expressed thanks to his Excellency for his inspiring and practical interest at all times in agricultural education and research.