EMPIRE PRESS

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 18 August 1925, Page 5

EMPIRE PRESS

BRITISH DELEGATION

WELCOMED AT AUCKLAND

INTERESTJ NG SPEECHES.

(BY TELEGRAPH PRESS ASSOCIATION AUCKLAND, Aug. 17

A civic reception was tendered to the Empire Tress delegates at tlie Town Hull this morning. Tne deputy--51 ay or (Mr. Warnock.) presided, and there was a large and representative attendance, including the Hon. Sir James Parr, officially representing the Government.

The deputy-Mayor said that last week they had the pleasure of welcoming a powerful battle fleet to the Dominion, and to-day 7 they 7 did themselves the honour of welcoming representatives of a power that was more potent than all the battle fleets, in that by their influence they guided the destinies of the world. Newspapers were the only literature of millions, and they therefore moulded the ideas and thoughts of nations. The most pleasing feature of the British, press,which the delegation represents, was its absolute fairness and honesty of purpose in its advocacy of the people’s rights and freedom. They were proud to extend a hearty 7 welcome to the delegation, whose personnel was so brilliant, and whose deliberations at the coming conference might have such far-reaching effects for good. .. . Sir James Parr said that the official welcome by the Goverment would he held in Wellington in a few days, but it was at the request of the Prime Minister and the members of the Cabinet, and he took the earliest opportunity of expressing to the delegates a hearty welcome from the Government and people of New Zealand. He was particularly'pleased to welcome Lord Burnham, the official head of th© British press world. He had had previous experience of Lord Burnham’s kindness when the Parliamentary dele_ gation from New Zealand visited England in 1916. He hoped the delegates would not find this country uninterest, ing. The Government was trying to do something to make New Zealand known abroad, and he considered' a great deal more could be - done ill the matter of publicity and immigration! They would see that- the New Zealander had characteristics of his own, and from 75 to 80 per cent, were children of people whose parents came from-the Old Country. .. s Lord Burnham, who was received with cheers, .said that the delegates were almost overwhelmed with the warmth of the greeting, and he returned their most sincere thanks for the reception. He said the delegates rejoiced to find themselves in what they always heard to be. and what they already- knew to be, the most Home-like of the British oversea® Dominions. He had already satisfied himself on that point. They had come, here to renew many friendships and to make more. He had had the pleasure of meeting many public men from the Dominions, including the late Prime. Minister, and on -behalf of himself and his colleagues he sympathised with New Zealand in the dire loss sustained by the loss of that great public servant. Of him it could truly be said, “He belonged to th© bulldog breed.” Lord Burnham' paid a. high tribute to the New Zealand army division.

The delegation, he said, had oometo New Zealand to learn somethingfor themselves concerning the' resources and possibilities of the' Do-*-minion and the Commonwealth. He had never heard of anyone who came, to New Zealand who did not speak well of it. They had to realise what settlement meant, • and.’ he pointed out that there was not one country tlia-t did so much trade per head of population with" Great Britain as New Zealand. There was no doubt ’ they had to see for themselves how best to recruit people here of good blood and good fibre from the Old Country., He was not ther© to preach the. doctrine of indiscriminate immigration, ' because he knew how inaiiy objections there were to it. He hoped that nothing would be left undone dp send, out the best of their youth, the same as' was .being sent to Flock- House, .which he hoped would fee' capable of great development. ■ ' ' ' • ; ' Concluding, Lord Burnham said that if at the Press Conference they, were able to draw closer the skein of ties of sympathy within the ''Empire, increase the concords and 'diminish ■ the discords, and get the British people to rely more on themselves than the outside world, then their time would not have been wasted; J 7 V t C .'<*>.'• 7‘V/- - A message has, been , to Lord Burnham by the Prime Minister (Hon. J. G. Coates) as follows;: - ; “On behalf of the Government-of New. Zealand. I extend to yourself -and all the. visiting members of the Empire. Press delegation, and also the ladles iii the party, a most hearty add cordial 'welcome to the Dominion. We sincerely, trust that your stay among us, although >so regrettably short,, will prove most enjoyable, and that you will carry away with you pleasant memories of vour sojourn in. the Britain of- the South. I look forward with great pleasure to meeting you in Wellington. In the meantime my colleague, Sir James Parr, who is now. in Auckland, will convey on our behalf a personal welcome to you/’ *• An acknowledgment sent, by Lord Burnham reads: “We, all thank you most .sincerely for your hearty and generous’welcome to New Zealand, which lias already been extended in the kindest words on your behalf by Sir James Parr. We are looking forward to every day of our stay in this splendid Dominion, and we only regret that it will be too short for .adequate .appreciation.1 am delighted to know that we shall see you in Wellington. ’