VICE-REGAL VISIT

Greymouth Evening Star, 3 December 1946, Page 2

VICE-REGAL VISIT

CIVIC RECEPTION AT GREYMOUTH

DAY’S ACTIVITIES

A civic reception was accorded the Governor-General, Sir Bernard Freyberg, and Lady Freyberg at the Town Hall last evening. The Mayor, Mr F. A. Kitcningham, presided at the func ion and the Municipal Band was in attendance.. A guard of honour under Messrs W. Meldrum and R, M.S. Orbell was formed outside the Town Hall by members of the R.S.A. The attendance of the public numbered between 200 and 250,

The formal address of welcome was read by the Mayor ana Sir Bernard read an address4in-reply, which he presented to Mr Kitchingham for the archives of the town. Mr Kitchingham said that the actdress which he had read was chiei y formal and he would like _ informal y to express the appreciation oi tn citizens of Greymouth of their excellencies’ visit. He thanked oil Bernard and Lady Freyberg for then tireless efforts on behalf of New Lealand soldiers serving overseas anc assured them of a cordial welcome whenever they visited the Wes Coast.

“Safest Affection’ Mr J. W. Hannan, chairman of the Grey County Council, spoke on behalf of residents of the county. He said that the safest affection in which the people of this country could indulge to counteract the extreme Leftists was affection towards the Roy a family. As a representative of the Crown Sir Bernard was a welcome visitor, but he and Lady Freyberg were doubly welcome because o± the wonderful work they had done tor the Dominion’s troops. The Minister of Transport, Mr O’Brien, and Mr O. McLean, president of the R.S.A., delivered brief speeches of welcome. Sir Bernard said that he felt it was a blot on his record that he had not previously visited the West Coast. It was a delight to come back to New Zealand after 32 years and find what a beautiful and productive country it was. “The reputation established by members of the New Zealand Navy, Army and Air Force while serving overseas will live for 100 years,’ said Sir Bernard. He added that, in his position, he had often to recommend men from the 2nd N.Z.E.F. for tasks with other units and he had never heard anything but good reports of them. Not only in battle but on leave the Kiwis had always given a good account, of themselves. Britain’s Burden Referring to affairs in Britain, His Excellency said that no people had borne a heavier load than the people of the United Kingdom. “Not only

were they heavily bombed and in the front line from start to finish, but they bore the agony of Dunkirk when their Expeditionary Force was smashed, the anxiety of the submarine war and the responsibility oi losing Malaya, but they then took stock when all was over and found further difficulties ahead,” he said. Sir Bernard pointed out that Britain had spent the whole of her wealth on the war and was faceci with enormous debts. “She has a difficult future; but she will come through in the end,” he added. f‘We have all got to help by stepping up the quantity and quality of the goods we ship to England and, when Britain can export again, we owe it to her to ‘buy British’ wherever we can,” he concluded. During the function. Mr AV. B. Hutton sang two songs. On behalf of the people of Greymouth and district Miss Flora McLean presented Lady Freyberg with a bouquet. Children’s Welcome The Town Hall was' packed in the afternoon when children from the local schools assembled for an address by the Governor-General. Mr W. M. Stewart, principal of the Greymouth Technical High School, welcomed their Excellencies. He said that there were two reasons lor the warmth of the children s welcome. In the first place Sir Bernard was the King’s representative and in the second place all children had a natural capacity for hero worship. His Excellency would always be assured of a hearty welcome on the West CJocist Sir Bernard said that his meetings with the youth of the country were among his most pleasant tasks. He told the children that they were indeed fortunate to have been born in New Zealand where they could enjoy freedom of speech, law, education and religion. These things, however, were not to be taken lor granted as they had been bought at a price—the price of many lives in two great wars. New Zealanders overseas had been called the “salt of the earth,” said Sir Bernard. That was an enviable reputation based on the good manners and bearing of the Dominions representatives overseas. He hoped that if ever any of his audience travelled overseas they would keep up the good name of theii country. His Excellency concluded by thanking the children for their enthusiastic welcome and wishing them every success in their school days as well as in after years. Visit to Hospital

During the afternoon the ViceRegal party visited the Greymouth Hospital where they met a number of former servicemen and also four former army nursing sisters. Sir Bernard, accompanied by Mr O. McLean, president of the Greymouth branch of the R.S.A., laid a wreath on the Cenotaph between engagements in the afternoon.