VISIT TO INDIA.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LI, Issue 9137, 9 July 1906, Page 2

VISIT TO INDIA.

THE PRINCE'S OBSERVATIONS.

In tho course of bis speech, responding to tie official welcome home to London, th© Prince of Wales said : —

No one can possibly fail to be struck by the wonderful administration of India. Time did not permit of our leaving the beaten toack for the interior of the country, and thereby gaining an insight into the machinery of that important organisation, the government of a district. But We had opportunities of seeing at the headquarters of the Presidencies and of the different provinces the general administrative work of the Civil Service. At the same time we realised that it is the mere handful of highly educated British, officers, often leading' a bard and strenuous life, frequently separated from thedr fellowcountrymen, and subject to the trials and discomforts of the plains, who are working hand in band with the representatives of the different races in the administration of the enormous areas and in the govern ment of millions of people.

TBE ARMY IN INDIA.

During the month, of December, in tfo© neighborhood of Rawal Pindi, I had the honor of staying with Lord Kitchener in Ihis camp to see the manoeuvres, and witnessed operations on an extended scald between two armies, numbering in all 55,000 men, terminating in a review and march past, the largest ever brought together in India in the time of general peace. I was struck with, the general fitness and splendid bearing of the British troops, with the remarkable physique and power of endurance of the native army, and the dash of its cavalry, while throughout the Army I found an earnest desire for increased efficiency and for readiness to take the field. lam proud to say that during my tour I was able to inspect 143,000 troops. (Cheers.) If I were asked to name any general impression which I have formed during this extensive but far too short experience, it would be that I lhave learned to appreciate the fact that India cannot be regarded as one country. We talk casually of going to India, but the majority of us perhaps do not realise tihat it is a continent with an area equal to Übe whole of Europe except Russia, containing a . population of 300,000 of divers© races, languages and creeds, and of many different grades of civilisation. It was struck with ite immense size, ite splendor, ite numerous races, ite varied climate, it snow-capped mountains, iba boundless deserts, its mighty rivers, its architecture, and ite ancient traditions. I have realised the patience, tbo simplicity and love, the loyal devotion, and the reJigioua spirit which, characterised tiie Indian peoples. (Cheers.) I know also tfieir faith in the absolute justice and integrity of our rule. GREATER SYMPATHY. I cannot help thinking from all that I have heard and seen that the task of governing India will be made the easier 5 we on our part infuse into it a widier element of sympathy. I will venture to predict that to such, sympathy there will loe an ever-abundant and genuine response, and may we not also hope for a still fuller measure of trust and confidence in oar earnest desiro and efforts to promote the well-being and to further the best interests of every class? (Cheers.)