PRINCE HENRY IN WELLINGTON

Evening Post, Volume CXVIII, Issue 145, 17 December 1934, Page 12

PRINCE HENRY IN WELLINGTON

membership of the British Commonwealth of Nations, and that wo Will stana shoulder to shoulder with the British'people, for good or tor ill, for better or for worse, in all things, for all time." ROYAL GUEST'S REPLY. There was a spontaneous burst of cheering as his Royal Highness rose to reply. "I thank you, sir, for tho very kind words in which you have proposed the toast of my health, and you, gentlemen, for'the' enthusiastic manner, in which you have received it," said his! Royal Highness. '. "It is a further instance of the way i-ii which the people of "Wellington, like those of Australia, havo already mado mo feel at home. Although you are entertaining me in the capital I feel that so far I am only on the threshold of New Zealand. You havo opened the door and bidden me welcome, and I enter, eager to- see and to learn all that I can in the course of my extensive tour through the country which you have so considerately arranged for me. "You have, sir, made clear the feelings of loyalty with which the King, my father, is regarded by the whole people of New Zealand, and of their attachment to the',Empire. I know that ■when. I return home I shall be able to support your words by my personal experience. (Applause.) VISIT KEENLY ANTICIPATED. "You have made kindly, reference to the previous visits paid by members of my family to this country. ..From what they • have told me—and incidentally I may say that I have never met any visitor to New Zealand who did not express a wish to return hero —I have beeft particularly anxious to come and sec tho country of whoso beauty and fertility I havo heard so much, and its people, both pakeha and Maori, who established so great a reputation in tho war. I look forward especially to meeting members of the Maori iace, a race of warriors and athletes, who have proved so staunch in their loyalty to the Empire, and such helpful partners hero in the work of «&c country. (Cheers.) ' ; : , "I know, sir, that New Zealand has led the world in many forms of social legislation, and this fact adds greatly tf> the interest of a visitor in going among the people and observing the conditions under which they live, both in tho cities and in the country districts. ' . "The great Dominions provide tlio children with a wonderful open air life, and it is small wonder that one sees, nothing but healthy, happy faces on all, sides. I know that their welcome to me" as I go through this Dominion will be' one of my most enjoyable experiences. THE RIFT IN THE CLOUDS. "To turn for a moment to less cheerful matters, may I say that I. realise how very serious has been the depression through which New Zealand haa recently passed. I sincerely hope that' the rift now visible in the clouds is truly a portent of fair weather, and that you will soon emerge into tho sunshine of prosperity, especially as regards' the marketing of primary products, ;of which the trade of these islands mainly consists. "I thank you, gentlemen, for your hospitality to me today, and'l ask you, as the representatives, of the people of New Zealand, to say that I bring to them- and their children at this Christ-mas-time a message-of greeting and good wishes. from their kinsmen at Home." ■-■