TUESDAY, MAY 24, 1910. LORD PLUNKET'S FAREWELL. The Star.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LVII, 24 May 1910, Page 4

TUESDAY, MAY 24, 1910. LORD PLUNKET'S FAREWELL.

The Star.

Delivered every evening: by 6 o'clook in Hawera, Manaia, Normanby, Okaiawa, Kith am. Manttatoki, Kaponga. Awatuna, Opunake, Otakeho, Manutahi. Alton, Hurleyville- Patea. and Waverley.

The farewell tour which Lord Plunket is now undertaking has furnished abundant proof of His Excellency's popularity. At practically every wayside station at which Ms train stopped there has been an assemblage of residents of the particular vicinity, and there has been no mistaking either tolie earnestness of the gatherings or the regret with which the Governor is taking his departure. The loyal demonstrations at Hawera and at Eltham were typical of what has occurred throughout the tour. In his reply to greetings his Excellency spoke in excellent taste, and made it plain that his sympathy with New Zealand will not end wkh his residence. Like his distinguished predecessor, Lord Plunket has done a very great deal towards strengthening the bonds of sympathy and affection between the authorities and people of the Homeiand and of this Dominion. During the whole of his residence here he has interested and identified himself with the desires and aspirations of New Zealanders ; into such associations as he joined he threw heart-whole enthusiasm, and his zeal for the best interests of the people over whose destinies he was called upon to preside has been unflagging. As Governor of this Dominion His Excellency has been, no mere figurehead. To all with whom he came in contaob he has been an inspiring force and succeeded in giving to many quite a new conception of the mental attitude of British peers towards British subjects in the overseas dominions. Occasionally it is urged in some quarters that the Governorship should be an elective office to which sons of the Dominion might aspire. Pretty well all that can 1)3 said for that was said by Sir George Grey years ago. No one has ever put the case better, but he could not persuade his generation, and the Imperial developments which recent history has seen makes the case better for the present system. It is of great importance that knowledge and sympathy as between the various parts of the Empire should be strengthened, and it is of distinot advantage that men of various parties should occasionally hold office in the overseas Dominions and return to the heart of the Empire understanding more or less completely colonial public men, colonial aspirations, colonial problems. And what better champions could New Zealand hope for than retired Governors such as Lord Plunket who has given every; earnest that his governorship has not been a period of banishment but a service of imperial pleasure and benefit. No locally-created Governor could hope to command that loyalty and respect which are accorded to the King's appointed representative. But, more important than thalt, a Governor's usefulness need not cease with his relinquishment of his high office amongst us. There can be litlble doubt that a term of office in New Zealand corrects the mental vision of a viceregal representative and it may be presumed to be equally true that his return amongst Kis own peers would tend also to regulate their perspective. When in New Zealand Lord Plunket inspired a sense of love and loyalty to the Mother Country ; it is not too much to expect that when he is again in his native place he will, by example and precept, still further enhance the respect with which this Dominion is 1 regarded. Since his appointment Lord Plunket has amply discharged his duty to the Homeland; upon his return he will, we believe, prove a powerful ambassador for New Zealand.