VISIT OF THE PRINCE

Evening Post, Volume XCIX, Issue 71, 24 March 1920, Page 5

VISIT OF THE PRINCE

METHOD OP ENTERTAINMENT Several matters in connection with the visit of the Prince of Wales to New Zealand were discussed by the Minister' of Internal Affairs (Sir Francis Bell) at the request of a Post representative this morning. The Minister explained that the Prince would be the, guest of the Government of New Zealand, acting on behalf of the people of the Dominion, during his visit, and that. the limitation of the visit to 27 days had been the cause of considerable difficulty, in arranging the tour." The time of departure from each place where the Prince would stay over night and the time of arrival at his next stopping place, for a night were necessarily definitely, fixed, and consequently the number of stops of the train en route. were limited, with the result that the residents of many- places passed by the train must, suffer disappointment. The tjvo objects of the Government had been to provide for the comfort and convenience of its guest, and to' ensure that as many of the population-as pos^ sible should have the opportunity 'of welcoming him personally. The Government itself had undertaken to collect the children of the public schools at the centres of population arid at the place* where the Royal train will stop, 'the number so assembled being limited only by "the obvious necessity for the children being able to make the journey to and from their homes to the place of assembly in the one day. The Government had also undertaken to arrange for the assembling of returned soldiers at tb* various points to meet and welcome the Prince, but, as far as possible,. it had left to the decision of the local authorities the' form of other welcomes and entertainments, and was avoiding interference in these matters. •'.■.■. ■■■■

At Auckland and Wellington the Prince of Wales, the Minister stated, would stay at Government House as the guest of, the Governor-General and the Countess of Liverpool. Except in these cases and the single further exception of the deer shooting in the 'Wairarapa, the Prince wouldi not be privately entertained. At Rotorua the Government was securing the whole accommodation of the Grand Hotel and Waiwera House, ;md the Governov-General would, on behalf of the Government, act as host. At Wanganui. Reefton, Hokitika, and Invercargill, the Government had . secured the whole .accommodation of the several hotels at which the Prince would stop, in order to make full provision, for his privacy and comfort. At Napier,, Christchurch, and Dunedin the principal clubs had generously - placed their club-houses at the disposal of the ' Government, and the Prince would stay there with the chief members of his staff as the guest of the.Government, the' clubs, in'tha meantime, relinquishing all use,'of, their .premibfes. Without that hslp the Government would have been unable to ensure the privacy aijdi convenience of : the . Prince in the three, centres last mentioned 1, for the reason that it was impossible, to obtain the whole of the accommodation of any hotel there. Further, the difficulty ,of appropriate household service had been met by the kindness and consideration of the clubs. ' ...

During his remarks the Minister emphasised the fact that wWle staying at the club-houses the Prince would be the guest of the Government and not of the clubs. Members of the chrbs concerned w;ere most generously giving up all rights to the use of. the chibs daring th*! Prince's stay in the towns concerned.