Greymouth Evening Star. AND BRUNNERTON ADVOCATE SATURDAY, DECEMBER 11th., 1937 THE KING’S FIRST YEAR.

Greymouth Evening Star, 11 December 1937, Page 6

Greymouth Evening Star. AND BRUNNERTON ADVOCATE SATURDAY, DECEMBER 11th., 1937 THE KING’S FIRST YEAR.

'J’O-DAY is the first anniversary of the King’s succession to the Throne, following his brother’s abdication, and. it will be agreed that he has come through his first year as Monarch, with conspicuous success. Queen Elizabeth has proved a worthy help-mate, and there will be Empire-wide congratulations and good wishes to the Royal couple. His Majesty’s 42nd birthday will be on Tuesday next, and. wishes to him of many happy returns will be general and sincere. At all times, the King’s responsibilities are onerous, the first year being particularly so, when he has to get accustomed to his new position, and to undergo the ordeal of the Coronation ceremonies and many festive meetings ( necessitated by the occasion. The i manner in which King George has p ulfillod his varied duties has won i popular approval, and the Throne

has never stood higher in public

; stimation. This achievement is the more creditable considering the dramatic circumstances in which the King succeeded to his high position. Considerable patience and jtact were essential if disruption had to be avoided, and a regrettable development made no worse. As a brother, King George must have felt deeply the necessity for' ’he former Monarch’s exile, and it lias not been easy to be adamant where yielding would have been more congenial. It was wonderfull

that the abdication' of King Edward did not cause more upset in Empire annals, and for the avoidance of national dissensions, both past and present Monarchs are entitled to commendation.'Loyalty and gratitude to King George is compatible with sympathy and affection for ex-King Edward, who has paid a great price for his historic decision. The Empire has no regret that public opinion stood firm a year ago, but it will ever be sorry that it was necessary to lose the services of one who had done so much for the common cause.

King George has maintained his own keen interest in Overseas welfare, and takes every opportunity to prove this interest. Teams and other Dominion representatives visiting Britain are given the opportunity of meeting the King personally, and are unanimous about the cordial reception forthcoming. In such an affair as his own birthday, he was glad to agree to the Dominions’ wishes that this should be officially celebrated Overseas on a more convenient occasion than the actual date, and the first Monday in June will be all the more welcome because of the King’s consent. In many ways, both the King and Queen and Queen Mary, demonstrate their friendliness to Overseas lands and peoples, thus, binding the Empire closer. This attitude is particularly valuable at this time, when the Empire’s possessions are looked at with envious eyes by strong rivals for supremacy, and when Empire unity, in peace and war, was never more essential. As with most families, occasions occur when differences of opinion arise as to policy, foreign and commercial, but this is not permitted to grow into serious friction. The Royal influence is cast in the direction of fostering the British Commonwealth’s welfare, and little Royal effort is spared to spread goodwill and understanding between the various nations of the Empire. King George enters the second year of his reign with increasing zeal and confidence and with prospects of a happy era being instituted for the- lands and peoples under his rule.