THE ROYAL TOUR.

Grey River Argus, 9 December 1926, Page 3

THE ROYAL TOUR.

AUSTRALIANS GATHER. To Felicitate The Yorks. A LONDON SOIREE. LONDON, Dec. 7. I Guests at the Australian and New I Zealand Club’s luncheon to tho Duke and Duchess of York, included Sir J. I Cook, Commander Greig, General Home, Mr Manning, M.H.R., Bear-Ad-mirals Share, and Tredwen, Sirs Archibald Weigall, and Frederick Young. Apologies for absence were received from Mr Coates and Sir J. Parr. The Duchess looked charming in powder blue coat frock, hat of beige, fox fur, with a bouquet of pink carna-

Sir Newton Moore (chairman) announced that was the last public function at which the Duke of York would appear before his departure. He wished him bon voyage. Tho King visited Australia a quarter of a century ago as the Duke of York, and witnessed the birth of the nation now possessing equals status with tho great nations of the world. An equally loyal welcome awaited the. present Duke. PREMIER’S SPEECH. Mr Bruce said. “Tho reception given you to-day is merely an augury of the enthusiasm with which you will be reeeiv »d on your arrival. A welcome awaits you surpassing any demonstration yc.u have yet received, due to Australia’s realisation of its privileges in being part of the Empire, but more particularly because you personally represent His Majesty, the unity of Empire, and tho embodiment of the mystic extraordinary thing called the British constitution, and because our people realise the devoted services the King, Queen and Royal Family give their peoples in all parts of tho world. Wo shall welcome you as a human being, recognising you arc a sportsman and a true democrat. It ir -' to you and the Royal Family that, we have to look for the embodiment of demo« racy nowadays. Me will welcome you because of your great interest in social movements, particularly your devotion to the cause of the iisiiig g‘neral ion, in which the Empire’s prosperity rests. They should be the object of all our endeavours. You will come among ])eople who have passed the stage of infancy and have proved to be a nation proud of tlrn’r status and self-governing rights, but ever remembering they are. part of tin Empire. Proud of the citizenship in the Commonwealth of nations and standing for all that is most precious in civilisation of the world. hours n a great mission us an ambassador o 1 the Empire providing the essential personal touch. When we are passing \hrough a period of change in oui im |H-riai relations, nothing can be more valuable that your visit which is •' great opportunity for you and a great privilege for us.” ( Applause). THE DUKE’S REDLY. “There is something so stimulating in a gathering of Australians and New Zealanders,” said the Duke of York, in responding. “I speak from experi enee. This is not the first similar gathering I have, attended. We arc delighted with the thought of visiting pour countries. 1 count it a high honour at being asked to open Canberra, which I trust will mark a new period of prosperity. 'Go ami sec for your selves’ is a fine precept. Travel is be * coming quicker and easier to the furI thcrest parts of the Empire. Lord ‘ Stonehaven traverses vast stretches b> p aeroplane as easily as the train jour- j ney from London to Edinburgh. Sir t A. Cobham flies to Australia and back p in a few weeks. Mr Bruce sends wire f less messages from Rugby and re- I eeives a reply in twenty-three minutes. :1 It may not be long before Mr Coates in “ Wellington can talk wirelessly with London, and receive a reply in twentythree seconds. There is a risk that y inventors will go on inventing until it is impossible to travel because you will , be swept beyond your destination in the moment of starting, wherefore wo 1 are hastening to see Australia before the progress of science defeats its own ends. As R. L. Stevenson, wlio made ' his home on an island in the ocean I washing your shores, said: “It is better to travel hopefully than to arrive,” I but with us the welcome awaiting is better than the journey, however at ’ tractive. Members of the last con- , ference have liardly seen Britain at. its best. We have been undergoing severe industrial difficulty. Tho burden lies heavily on us, but the Old Coun , try is not done yet. Ear from it. (Cheers). There is lee way to makeup but we shall come through triumphant, the first to rejoice being our over-| H-as kinsmen. 1 hope the conference delegates will take back messages <d‘ our warm affection. I shall not say -good-bye, but an revoir. ” Amid the applause greeting the Duke’s speech, his reference to New Zealand by the Maori name “Long White Cloud” (Ao Tea Roa) evoked a special cheer. Mr Amery proposing the toast or the “Chairman” said: The Duke’s quotation from Stevenson reminded one of a. certain prince who desired to attend an international celebration at Malta. He returned fruitlessly, his ?) admiral explaining there was no such place, because lie had hunted the I Mediterranean up and down and could I not find it. I trust the Renown will be I „ble to find the way back, as so many ! visiting Australia have not seemed | able to do. I am thinking of the ’’’ turn, when the Prime Ministers of Aus tralia will enter a high power wirele • station at Canberra, after which their disintegrated messages will be • assembled at Rugby. Serious constitutional problems might arise if M lluehes and Mr Hertzog flasnei simultaneously and got mixedup but the Duke and Duchess will not be < x

to it and through it to each other, the Crown is not. merely a mystie symbol of our unity. It is something personal. human, friendly and democratic and therefore the value of its representatives establishing contact not only with Britons but with other overseas Dominion people is inestimable. Sir Newton Moore, responding, recalled his commanding the 1901 Boyal escort to Australia to the then Duke nF York, therefore it was most interesting he should preside in the valedictory to the present Duke.