WOODVILLE VISITED

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIII, Issue 51, 27 January 1933, Page 8

WOODVILLE VISITED

3.15 P.M. EDITION

GOVERNOR-GENERAL WELCOMED. GATHERING IN SQUARE. Arriving from Dannevirite, Their Excellencies Lord Bledisloe ■ and the Lady Bledisloe paid a brief visit to Woodville this morning. Shops were closed for an hour and the public assembled in Fountaine Square, where a reception was given to the Vice-Regal representatives who were accompanied by Lieutenant Tweedio, A.D.C. Under Mr T. H. Williams, a Guard of Honour was- formed by returned soldiers, together with the Girl Guides under Miss Beattie and the Brownies under Miss McGregor. Her Excellency was met by the Mayoress (Mrs J. Elder) as she entered the grounds and was presented with a beautiful .bouquet. The Vice-Regal party then proceeded to a platform under the shade of the trees.

Stating that the Vice-Regal visit to Woodvillo was the first for ten years, the last one having been paid by Lord Jellicoe, the Mayor (Mr J. Elder) said that nevertheless the town realised that they were only a small community and there were many calls on the Gov-ernor-General’s ■ time. Consequently, they appreciated the visit all the more, and he wished to extend to Their Excellencies the heartiest of welcomes. He gave an assurance of the district’s loyalty to King and Empire, and called attention to the silent witness of that fact in the memorial to the dead, within a few yards of where they stood. “We have all read of your utterances on various subjects, which indicate the clear, trained and logical thinker,” added the Mayor. “As :: farming community we recognise that Lord Bledisloe is very much at home when he touches on. farming matters, and, incidentally, I would like to teh T'lieir Excellencies that the Woodville district is one of the best dairying districts in New Zealand, ifl iPod, if championship awards for butter and cheese are any indication, it is the best.” The Mayor proceeded to refer to Their Excellencies’ many gestures of generosity, including the magnificent gift to the nation of the Waitangi Estate at the Bay of Islands. He said the Lady Bledisloe had endeared herself to the women of the Dominion by her genuine interest in the various women’s organisations, such as the Women’s Institute, Women’s Division of the Farmers’ Union, Plunket Society and Girl Guides. He was pleased to say there were representatives of all those societies on the platform to do honour to Her Excellency. It was typical of the kindly thoughtfulness of His Excellency that he had particularly requested that the ratepayers should not be put to any expense for the visit. Those wishes had been followed, hut the absence of outward signs did not mean any diminution of the great warmth in their hearts towards Their Excellencies. WORLD’S DIFFICULTIES. His Excellency, who was greeted with cheers on rising to speak, returned thanks for the very charming and felicitiously. expressed welcome to Woodville. He stated that the world was suffering from the inefficiency of the gold system, the United States and France having between them 65 per cent, of the world’s gold. The United States had erected tariff barriers which prevented the entry of goods from other countries, though that was the only possible way in which Great Britain could meet her debt obligations. Britain’s difficulties were enormously accentuated by the fact that the natural way of paying her debts by goods was greatly hindered because they had to climb over high tariff walls. Three-quarters of the difficulties in New Zealand, and more than that proportion in the Old Country were due to international monetary difficulties over which we had no control.

Great Britain was pointing the way to the whole world in the matter or sound finance and fair treatment as between nation and nation. The last thing she wished to do. was to repudiate her debts. Britain was perfectly able to pay her debts to the United States it the debts owing to her by other countries, particualrly France and Germany, were paid. \At the World Economic Conference, if her reasonable arguments were listened to, Great Britain could do a good deal towards leading the way out of the present difficulties. Subsequently, Hei- Excellency made the request that when school reassembled the children lie granted a holiday in celebration of the occasion oi their visit. Their Excellencies next left for Pahiatua to attend a public reception there before jn'oeoeding to Eketahuna.

VISIT TO PAHIATUA. Per Press Association. PAHIATUA, Jan. 27. During Their Excellencies’ visit at the Borough Chambers this afternoon they were introduced to local body representatives and their wives ~ and welcomed at the War Memorial in the Square by the Mayor (Mr J. D. Wilson) and county chairman (Mr S. Bolton). A presentation was made to the Lady Blcdisloe by the Bush Group of the Women’s Institute at a very largo and representative gathering of the public. His Excellency subsequently attended a Masonic reception.