FAREWELL TO PEOPLE OF PALMERSTON NORTH

Manawatu Times, Volume LIV, Issue 7084, 5 December 1929, Page 8

FAREWELL TO PEOPLE OF PALMERSTON NORTH

Governor-General Departs

NO DOMINION MORE LOYAL THAN ' N.Z

The visit to Palmerston North of their Excellencies, Sir Charles and

Lady Alice Fcrgusson, concluded yesterday afternoon, when they were tendered a public farowell from the band rotunda. There was a largo gathering of citizens, while an artillery unit, Scouts, Girl Guides and Cubs and Eiownies acted ,as guards of honour. The' Garrison Band was also on parade. Following an inspection of the units, their Excellencies ascended the band rotunda, where councillors and prominent citizens greeted them. City’s Farewell.

The- Mayor (Mr., A. J. Graham), in tendering the city’s regret at Sir « Charles’ departure from New Zealand, recalled that in the discharge of tho high office of his Majesty’s representative in New Zealand, Sir Charles has had a wonderful helpmate in the person of Lady Alice. The large attendance spoke eloquently of the .esteem in which Palmerston North people held thkm. Both had merited "the love of the people whom they were now leaving and the Dominion was richer for their stay anil interest shown in its welfare. Their Excellencies 'Had shown care for tho ,sick, regard , for returned soldiers and a great interest in all activities of the land from the highest calling to the lowest. The Mayor hoped their Excellencies would retain pleasant recollections of their associations with the people of Palmerston North and of New Zealand. “We thank you for what you have done and. bless the day you came to. this land.. We hope the years' to-, come will; be full of rich blessing and .opportunities to further y servo .mankind,’’ concluded tho speaker. < '•. Town ’g Progress. '•“I ;shall not' find it at all easy to return thanks' for your many kind expressions,’’ stated'Sir Charles on rising to reply. It was four years ago when he first stood on the band rotunda on the occasion of his first visit and it was hard to believe'that tho years had '.slipped by so quickly.' He had had hopes of referring to tho town as a city, but that' would bo anticipating, he felt sure by “a very short time only, what would eventuate. When he left y New (.Zealand the last time, it was in

1574, when Palmerston North, did not {■ exist. No one then could have envisaged' that. iii‘ *SO; ’to 60 years there would be erected . such a wonderful monument to tho'energy, perseverance and initiative of the people of the district. During the last five years, his Excellency said, ho had been granted opportunities that few people received and it would have been a great shame had he not used them. Earl Jcllicoe, his predecessor, had proved one of the finest men the Empire "had* produced and one of the finest Governor-Generals, of'New Zealand. In coming to. New . ' Zealand, Sir Charles; said he and Lady Pergusson had decided, to make-Earl Jcllicoe their example and take an in- '• torcst in everything. They had tried ' their best and were really much indebted to the standard his predecessor had set. He had tried to learn as much as he could, so that he-might go Home and interpret the aspirations of Now Zealand to Great Britain and be useful in bringing before them tho desires of the Dominion and so enlist their sympathies. That was tho duty of a Governor-General— to 'act as interpreter V between the two peoples—a link botween the Homeland and the colonics overseas. A Loyal People. In New • Zealand; >he never talked about loyalty, as it was so ingrained " in the people. It would be an insult •' to talk about it. New Zealanders in the past ' had shown that implicit loyalty to King and country which made a great,Empire. Loyalty was best shown by deeds and when he wont Home, he would' not fail to tell his Majesty of some of the feelings of - lpyalty which had existed from tho days of the. early. pioneers—a loyalty which still existed and had never been shaken. He' would also tell his Majesty that the boys apd girls of New Zealand were growing up. to recognisd their re- " sponsibility -in/ handing on this tradition. ... r .v Although he and Lady Alice were pleased to-be-going Home again, they would be leaving New Zealand and its people, very grateful for tho kindness and generosity shown. Mr., J. A. , Nash/ M.P., called foi cheers for their (Excellencies and bade them farewell on behalf of the elector Mr. J. Linklater, M.P., expressed tho regrets of tho Manawatu at theii departure and thanked Sir Charles foi .the encouragement he had given th« - • farming community and A. and P. As sociation. , . Further cheers from the gathering for their Excellencies, given at the cal of the Mayor, f concluded the functioi and after shaking hands with those as semblc.d on the band TOtunda, tho vice Be gal party left for the station to joii the south-bound express.