THE DUKE’S TOUR

Evening Star, Issue 19328, 14 August 1926, Page 4

THE DUKE’S TOUR

INVITATION TO FIJI,

Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright,

SUVA, August 13. The elected members and the Mayor of Suva have requested tho Governor (Sir Eyre Hutson) to invite the Duke and Duchess of York to visit Fiji on route to New Zealand. The Governor is communicating with tho Dominions Office.—A. and N.Z. Cable. THE ROYAL VISIT QUESTION OF THE COST CONTROVERSY SUGGESTED. LONDON, August 4. It is stated that tho Duke and Duchess of York will travel to New Zealand and Australia in a battle-cruiser. The choice at present lies between H.M.S. Renown and H.M.S. Repulse, but it practically been decided that H.M.S. Renown will be selected. The Duke of York and members of his staff have held long conferences with tho Dominions Office and the Admiralty, discussing the tour from evqry aspect. The cost will total £50,000. It seems that the expenditure seems fated to revive a political controversy similar to that which arose when tho Prince of Wales set out on his last mission.

The Labor Parlies in Australia and England possibly will question the necessity of expending such a sum, and there are signs that Labor in England and Australia will concertedly protest against the Duke and Duchess travelling in a warship. Mr Frank Brennan’s objection to the use of a warship will, no doubt, find an echo in the House of Commons. Mr Bruce’s vigorous reply suggests that he is prepared to learn that it was finally decided to despatch a warship owing to his emphatic statement that Australians would welcome a typical unit of Britain’s modern navy as a gesture of the Empire’s solidarity. The decision is cordially welcomed in British political circles. Apart from the dissenting minority alluded to, it is strongly felt that nothing would be more powerful in promoting a true understanding between the Mother Country and the dominions than such a gesture, which symbolises the Empire’s common dependence on the British Navy, which no member thereof can do without. The battle-cruiser, it is felt, will come as if saying: “Here is the British Navy, which, in the hour of need, is ready to sail southward if Australia calls.”

The Duke’s associates, commenting on his Swancea Eisteddfodd speech, say they were pleased to notice that his wellknown hesitancy in public speaking seems to lie yielding to a course of treatment. It was the best speech ho had yet made. The Duchess of York celebrated Lor twenty-sixth birthday to-day. She received hundreds of congratulations.