PRINCE'S MESSAGE.

Marlborough Express, Volume LIV, Issue 126, 31 May 1920, Page 4

PRINCE'S MESSAGE.

FAREWELL TO THE SCHOOLCHILDREN.

NOT GOOD-BYE BUT "AU REVOIR"

The message of farewell written to the schoolchildren of -this Dominion' by H.K.H. the Prince of Wales was read locally and throughout the country at 9 a.m. to-day. At the Blenheim -Borough School the children were assembled in front' of the building and Mr TV, TV., Rowntree read the message to the children. The 'Tetter'1 was written at; Lyttelton on May 22 t and reads as'follows:

H.M.S. "RENOWN." y , > V LYTTELTON, ". . May 22nd, 1920. * ;"Girls and Boys of New .Zealand:

"I am very c sorry, indeed that my (ielightfui visit- to New Zealand is over, and I vhinfc, before I leave, to send you my best wishes and a few v ords of farewell. I- hive asked that this message^ may be-read out to you by your iHastei"s and (teachers, and also that it may-be published in my own handwriting in your School Journal. . .:'..:■■;.■■''■ ;, ■ . ■ /.'/.;■■;■;)■ >'*■ . ■ •

"My first wish is to thank,you.all for giving me such hearty welcomes everywhere, . It has been a' great pleasure to, me to see so many of you gathered to meet me, and I am going fa tell my father and mother, the King and Queen, what a fine and loyal future is growing up jiu this Dominion. "I; also want to tell you wha^ I feel fitrfeuifc New Zealand^ ■;..•' It M a splendid -and .beautiful country, -and "well weffth your . lifef-long devotion. liomember, however, that it is a young i country, and that it depends upon y&u and upon those who follow you .to carry on the amazing rate' of progress that has been achieved by your parents and grand-parents. . "You have a splendid example before you in\your lathers and brothers, and also in \your mothers and sisters, who inarched and fought, or worked and endured, to win our well-earned victory in the great war.- Remember always how much you o>ve to them, and try to do as much for the Empire in your own day as they have done in theirs. I trust that you may never be called upon-to fight in another war; but you can serve the mighty Empire, which has kept you cafe and well, in times of peace> by living sti-aight and useful lives and always putting yonr duty to. your King, your Country, and your Flag before everything else. "There are just three things which I. want you to bear in mind:—.. , (1) Never consciously say or db< a dishonest thing. (2.) Always remember other peoples' interests when pursuing your own. (3.) Play for the, side* and' play . the game. One last word. Please do not think of me as some one very distant who came to see you onco and' then forgot you for people nenrer the Old Country. I love New Zealand, and belong to it every bit as much as yon clo yourselves. You, New Zealand girls and boys, are my own British kith rind kin, and I will never forget the wonderful first welcome which you gave me to my New Zealand home. "I hope this message is not to say propd-bye. but merely 'an revoir.' EDWAKI>P."