COUNTY’S WELCOME

Dominion, Volume 28, Issue 283, 27 August 1935, Page 6

COUNTY’S WELCOME

Lord and Lady Bledisloe

“SPECIFICATION FOR A GOVERNOR-GENERAL”

Viscount and Viscountess Bledisloe were given a memorable welcome by the Gloucestershire magistrates, county councillors, and others engaged in voluntary work for the county, in the Shire Hall, Gloucester, on Tuesday, July 2. In the presence of about 350 of the most distinguished people in the county’ and city, the Duke of Beaufort (Lord-Lieutenant of the County), presented an illuminated address to Viscount Bledisloe on their behalf. The gathering, which filled the council chamber, represented the county’s official welcome to Viscount Bledisloe and its recognition of the splendid work he performed as Governor-Gen-eral of New Zealand. Sir Russell Kerr, chairman of the Gloucestershire Quarter Sessions, presided, and was supported by Lord and Lady Bledisloe, the Duke of Beaufort, Sir Frederick Cripps, chairman of the County Council, the County High Sheriff (Mr. Sidney Allen), and Sir Francis Hyett. The illuminated address, which was in the form of a book, beautifully executed and bound, was entirely a Gloucestershire product, and contained the signatures of everyone present. Sir Russell Kerr said that many of • them had known Lord Bledisloe for many years, some of them from boyhood. They were well aware when he went to New Zealand that he would do the work well. What he did not think they realised was that within the space of five short years he had obtained the deep and warm affection of that Dominion, and by so doing had done a very great service to that country, and to the links which bound that country and the Mother Country. “It can only be done,” continued Sir Russell, “firstly by devoting yourself wholeheartedly to them, and secondly by having the deepest understanding and sympathy with their problems, difficulties, and aspirations, and putting yourself at all times at their service. That ho has accomplished, and he has left over there a name which will endure for a very long time, and which has been of abiding value to them and to yourselves.” The Duke of Beaufort read the address, and addresses of welcome were given by other leading men of the county. “Whatever may be the case of prophets,” said Lord Bledisloe, “and I cannot pretend to be one myself—-it is evident that a pro-consul is not without honour in his own country and among his own people.” (Applause). “I cannot pretend to merit half the generous encomiums which you have lavished upon my wife and myself. If my task at the Antipodes had some small measure of success, it was due to the fact that it was entirely congenial, that I represented the world’s most-beloved monarch (applause), and that I had in my wife an ideal partner, whose neverfailing optimism and inspiration in a period of extreme economic adversity —when Europeans and Maoris alike look almost pathetically to us for encouragement and advice —was simply invaluable.” (Renewed applause). “If I were asked to draw up the best specification for a Governor-General in New Zealand or Australia —if he is to be credited with avoidance of failure — I should say, a firm belief in the Almighty, a good- wife,' a love of sport, and at least a smattering of agricultural knowledge.” (Applause). His five years’ sojourn overseas had established a close association between Gloucestershire and New Zealand, strengthened by the recent successful visit of the Duke of Gloucester. "I would suggest that, in the interests of both,” he said, “that the connection be perpetuated and strengthened. There are already two grammar schools in the county which exchange correspondence regularly with schools of a similar grade in New Zealand. Cannot a similar link be established between other schools in the two areas. I make the suggestion partly because I have a confident belief that there are going to be, in the future, great openings for vocational prosperity for British migrants of courage, enterprise, and resourcefulness, and partly because there is a crying need for greater knowledge of our Empire heritage on the part of the rising generation in Great Britain.” Lord Bledisloe mentioned that lie had accepted the post of president of the National Council of Social Service, m succession to the Rt. Hon. J. 11. M hitley, ex-Speaker of the House of Commons.