VICE-REGAL FAREWELL

Manawatu Standard, Volume LV, Issue 68, 16 February 1935, Page 9

VICE-REGAL FAREWELL

LARGE PUBLIC FUNCTION. LORD AND LADY BLEDISLOE. APPRECIATION OF SERVICES. Deep appreciation of tlie services rendered to tlie Dominion over his term of five ' years by His Excellency the Governor-General, Lord BJedisl'oe, and Her Excellency the Lady Bledisloe was shown by a large public gathering when Their Excellencies received a civic farewell yesterday afternoon. There was genuine regret at their impending departure and the sentiments felt were voiced with very evident affection and goodwill. Their Excellencies were given a very enthusiastic reception from all sections of the community, being greeted with a hearty burst of hand-clapping when they arrived, the function taking place at the band rotunda in the Square. The Garrison Band, ready to depart for the band contest in the South Island, was in attendance and a guard of honour was provided by the Boy Scouts. School children were drawn up in deep lanes through which the Vice-Regal visitors proceeded to the platform. Apologies for unavoidable absence were tendered on behalf of Messrs J. A. Nash, M.P., C. E. Taylor (Mayor of Feilding), J. K. Hornblow (chairman of the Palmerston North Hospital Board), Mr S. J. Stranan (chairman of the Pohangina County Council), and Mr A. Campbell (chairman of the Oroua County Council). VALEDICTORY TRIBUTE.

The Mayor (Mr A. E. Mansford) said all regretted that the term of appointment of Their Excellencies was fast drawing to a close. Their impending departure was deeply deplored because their influence for good had been felt from the very day they arrived and began to identify themselves with the lives of the people with singular completeness. With their prudent counsel they had guided the Dominion through a perilous part of its history. The acceptance by Lord Bledisloe of the office of GovernorGeneral had been an honour to this country. He had made to the nation the magnificent gift of the Waitangi estate, and would always be remembered for his generosity, far-sighted-ness, and sympathy. His Excellency, continued the Mayor, had graciously consented to the calling of Bledisloe Park after his illustrious name, and though it was yet in its infancy, it was hoped that in years to come the park would be a fine monument to the outstanding personalities of Lord and the Lady Bledisloe. They were leaving behind, however, something far greater than a material gift. They had bestowed on this country their high, great and ineffable influence, memories of which would not be readily forgotten. Their example had been an object lesson to the community. His Excellency, recalled the Mayor, had said, when first welcomed in Palmerston North, that he wondered if the cheers would be equally hearty at the close of his term of office. lie had now heard those cheers.

Farewells were often lightly uttered and readily forgotten, added the Mayor, but on this occasion the farewell meant the completion of an inn portant chapter in the life of the Dominion, the severance of official ties, and saying goodbye, with a heavy heart. The Mayor hoped that Their Excellencies would return to England freighted and laden with happy memories of their term of office. INTEREST IN AGRICULTURE

The chairman of the Kairanga County . Council (Mr It. .Collis) said that one of Lord Bledislofi’s first functions had been to declare Palmerston North a city and it had been hoped that the new Fitzherbert bridge would be finished before he left New Zealand, when the County Council would have been very pleased” to ask His Excellency to declare it officially open. Unfortunately, that was not to be so. From the beginning of his term as Governor-General His Excellency had interested himself in agricultural matters in the Dominion. His Excellency had attended the various shows of the country and had taken a keen personal interest in them. He was a man of experience and sound knowledge in matters pertaining to our primary industries and took a keen interest in production besides being interested in seed growing. Mr Collis recalled the very fine speech delivered by His Excellency at the Grassland Conference in Palmerston North last year. Mr Collis advised all who were interested in seed production to secure a copy of the speech, which was most informative. His Excellency had great farming interests himself and his coming to New Zealand as an appointee of the King could have been done only with great personal sacrifice. However, after five years as GovernorGeneral he would go back to England with a keen knowledge of what the country could produce and that knowledge should prove of great value to this Dominion. Lord Bledisloe had set an example of living that had been extremely high, and he had shown that a nation’s greatness was indeed founded on its moral greatness. The memories of the people of New Zealand of Lord Bledisloe would long remain. They had been very pleased that His Excellency had set such a high example. On behalf of the Kairanga County Council, and the residents whom its members represented, Mr Collis extended to His Excellency and the Lady Bledisloe a fond farewell, and, in doing so, wished them a very pleasant journey “to the land of our fathers.” Ide hoped God’s richest blessings would ever be with them, and that the remaining years of their lives would be the most pleasant of all. All hoped that Their Excellencies would carry away with them many happy recollections, not only of this district but of all New Zealand. OTHER TRIBUTES. Adding his tribute, Mr J. Linklater, M.P., expressed his pleasure at joining in returning thanks to Their Excellencies for their groat services to the Dominion. They had had five strenuous years of office, he said, and Lord Bledisloe had given splendid encouragement and assistance to the farming community. He had paid several visits to Boys’ Flock House, where he had been an inspiration to the trainees. His Excellency, too, had attended every Royal Show during his sojourn in New Zealand, aiid imparted sound advice. His kindly interest in every direction was greatly appreciated. The gratification of ex-servicemen at being afforded the opportunity of voicing their goodwill and esteem was expressed by Mr B. J. Jacobs, president of the Palmerston North branch of the Returned Soldiers’ Association. Lord Bledisloe. lie said, had won a very warm place indeed in the hearts of the soldier-settlers, and had taken a close interest in the affairs of exservicemen. They were sorry to lose a great friend who would be sorely missed in the near future. HIS EXCELLENCY’S REPLY.

Greeted with rousing cheers on rising to respond, His Excellency said he greatly envied Ills successor, Lord Galway, because he was going to spend some five years among the most warmhearted and loyal people of the Empire. His Excellency said he would not say much, because his voice was weak

and the wind, was strong and, further, because on such occasions both voice and thoughts failed him. He appreciated the kind expressions of confidence and goodwill obviously spoken with deep sincerity, and in wishing the people a fond farewell he desired to express the hope that the future would ha.ve better things in store than the troubles of the last few years. Referring to Bledisloe Park, Hrs Excellency said that both the Lady Bledisloe and* himself deeply appreciated the compliment paid them in its name. It would give them a special attachment to the city of Manawatu or Palmerston North. It was pleasing to see before him the faces of so many cheery, happy and healthy boys and girls. He expressed the hope that the park, where there was a. great number of native plants, would be a place for instruction and development of the powers of observation. “Live near to Nature and you will never regret it,’ counselled Lord Bledisloe. There was a danger of being tempted by the excitements and so-called pleasures of city life. If one lost simplicity of life and outlook, which made greatly tor happiness, lie lost half the joy of living provided by a kind Providence. Continuing, His Excellency, in a reference to ex-servicemen, said that m times of stress they had been a nucleus body of patience, steadfastness and hope, helping the public to _ lace their economic trials with fortitude. It was to bo hoped they would always maintain that courageous outlook, and have the sympathy, too, of their compatriots. . February was a notable month_ to New Zealand, Her Excellency and himself, proceeded Lord Bledisloe. It was in February that the Treaty of Waitangi was signed, giving New Zealand the right to nationhood. It was in February that he became engaged to the Lady Bledisloe, to whose incomparable help he confessed that lie owed the chief inspirations of his life. They left England for New Zealand in a rebmary for five years of the happiest and healthiest periods of their lives. the severe Hawke’s Bay earthquake occurred in February, when Palmerston North became the chief centre for the stricken refugees. That ought to be credited in history to this city. VICE-REGAL DUTIES. Tributes to successive Goyernors-Gen-cral, continued Lord Bledisloe, were not due to their qualities or activities but to love for the Sovereign they iepresented, who set such a magnificent example. Such tributes, too, were due to the people themselves. The pursuit of trifiling things was no essential part of the duties of the Governor-General, which were simply to open Parliament, to preside over meetings of the Executive Council, to invest recipients with honours conferred on behalf of the King, on the advice of his Ministers, to decide the fate of those who committed capital offences. Those, he uiidestood; were the sole essential duties of a Governor-General, but few were conscious of them and most probably knew nothing whatever about them. The King was the only tangible link of Empire, and there was a special responsibility on those who represented His Majesty overseas to do nothing which would weaken that link. New Zealand was part of the greatest Empire in the world, with freedom for its people, sympathy in their distress, and pioneering traditions in industry and science. Lord Bledisloe said that m a months time he would be relinquishing tlie reins of office to Lord Galway, who came of old British stock, was a good, distinguished and efficient soldier, had splendid traditions for public service, and was deeply respected and loved in his own district of England. His sojourn in this country would be very happy if the people extended as equal a hand of friendship as they had to the speaker. Concluding, Lord Bledisloe reminded the public that for every Now Zealand shilling spent in Great Britain at least one penny came back to New Zealand. He urged them to give preference to the purchase of goods from the Old Country. Conditions had been pretty bad both in New Zealand and England, but he was glad to think, on leaving, that the people here were on the threshold of improved conditions. He was an optimist, and thought this improvement had come to stay as long as production was reasonably efficient, and national and public authorities were reasonably economical in their expenditure—not too ambitious. New Zealand bad not the resources of the great industrial countries, and her public expenditure had to be moderate. He hoped they would educate the children to be good workers and not merely be “passengers in the national boat.” Cheers were given for Their Excellencies after Lord Bledisloe had expressed final farewell sentiments.