Governor- General Welcomed

Manawatu Times, Volume 66, Issue 47, 24 February 1941, Page 5

GovernorGeneral Welcomed

Tributes Paid to Distinguished Record FORTUNATE CHOICE FOR DOMINION P*r Pres* Association i WELLINGTON, Feb. 22 « Sir Cyril Newall, the new Governor-General, and Lady Newall and family arrived this morning in brilliant weather, the train arriving at the platform promptly on the schedule time of 8.55 o’clock. The Administrator, Sir Michael Myers, who was accompanied by the Clerk of the Executive Council, entered the Vice-Regal carriage and greeted Sir Cyril. The station platform was decorated with flags, and a red carpet led to the edge of the platform, beyond w’hich was drawn up a guard-of-honour from the army school at Trentham and the Royal New Zealand Air Force. Just after 9 o’clock, the Prime , Minister, Mr P. Fraser, entered the ! carriage, and shortly afterwards Sir j Cyril set foot cn Wellington. He re- i ceived the Royal salute, following ! which he, the Administrator and the chiefs-of-staffs inspected the guard, while the Air Force band played in i slow measure the Maori melody “E Pari | Ra” After the inspection, Mr Fraser 1 presented to Sir and Lady Newall the | Ministers of the Crown and their wives, the High Commissioners for the United Kingdom and Canada and their wives, members of the Legislative Council and the House of Representatives and their wives, the chiefs-of-staffs and the Commissioner of Police. The ceremony at the station closed with the Royal salute. All these proceedings were watched from outside by an interested public, which gathered also at the vehicle exits and cheered as the cars left. They went to the Citizens’ War Memorial, where Sir Cyril was presented to representatives of the Wellington and New Zealand R.S.A., and he placed a wreath. Drive to Government House. Sir Cyril was then driven to the Town Hall and introduced by Mr Fraser to the mayor and mayoress, Mr | and Mrs T. C. A. Hislop. The ceremony there was informal, the mayor introducing councillors and their wives and the chief officers of the council. A quarter of an hour later Sir Cyril and Lady Newall, carrying a bouquet of gladioli, drove to Government House accompanied by spontaneous cheers from people gathered outside the hall. The party left Government House at 10.50 o’clock and as they proceeded through the city for Parliament Hc» se j 20 Royal Air Force machines roared overhead in formation. The scene in Parliament Grounds was very brilliant, everything being beflagged, and the flower beds bright with colour. The ceremonial took place under a cloudless sky. A large crowd had gathered, 1 and besides the guard-of-honour, 300 returned men were drawn up at the dais. Preceded by two mounted policemen, the cars arrived precisely on time, ; Sir Cyril alighting as the clock was striking 11 o’clock. He saluted as the , present-arms order was given, and the ' opening bars of the National Anthem was played. After the inspection of i the guard-of-honour, he returned to Lady Newall, and their Excellencies i mounted the dais to a ripple of ap- ’ plause. The Warrent of Appointment was read by Mr T. R. Aickin, aqd Sir Cyril took the oath of allegiance, and the oath of office was administered by Sir Michael Myers. The guard-of-honour gave the Royal * Salute, and the opening bars of the National Anthem were again played, his Excellency taking the salute. to which the heroic people of Britain ; were exposed. j Mr Fraser said that New Zealand . embarked upon the war effort with a 1 firm determination to strain every ! nerve and sinew and to spare no sac- ■ rifice to make its contribution the ! fullest and most effective within its power. He assured his Excellency that 1 { we faced the future with no other k feelings but these and with full 60nI fidence in ultimate victory. * i*rime Minister’s Welcome. i i Mr Fraser, in extending a welcome , on behalf of the Government and the 5 people assured Sir Cyril and Lady Newall of the most earnest desire that their stay in New Zealand might be happy. They would find the people imbued with all the characteristics and spirit of the highest tradition of the [British race, men and women inspired with the fervent wish to share to the full with their kinsfolk in the United Kingdom and elsew’here in the task of defending their lives and liberties and in preserving Christian civilisai tion and the democratic way of life. 1 He took the opportunity of stating f that we appreciated more than words » could tell the splendid and inspiriting example of their Majesties the King and Queen, who willingly and courageously were sharing all the danger: tin mis grave and critical hour it was a matter of great satisfaction that a Governor-General with so distinguished a record should have come to live in our midst in New Zealand. It 3 was most appropriate in the present circumstances that the representative of the King should come from the t armed services and from among the B most conspicuous of those who had " given such unstinted services to the Empire during the present conflict.

“We count ourselves singularly fortunate on this occasion,” said the Prime Minister, “that New Zealand should have as Governor-General an airman of such exceptional experience, one whose profound knowdedge of the problems of modern warfare in all its phases demands the very highest respect and one whose achievement in building up the RA.F. until it has become the finest in the world commands the undying gratitude, of the British people ”

Mr Fraser said that a welcome was extended on behalf of both races, Maori and pakeha. He stressed how they were bound together In a common destiny and were freejy united once again and w r ere offering their blood in defence of democratic ideals

Sir Cyril, in returning thanks for the welcome, said that they were deeply touched and encouraged by the warmth

and sincerity of the welcome and felt already that they were among friends. They wanted themselves to be regarded not as strangers but as friends. Their arrival was a climax of many months of anticipation. He gave an assurance of their intention to devote themselves to the welfare of New Zealand. Message From King He brought a personal message from his Majesty the King, who had commanded him to convey His Majesty’s best wishes to the Government and the people of New Zealand. His Majesty recognised with gratitude the assistance New Zealand was giving in the prosecution of the war. and his Majesty was confident that their labours would be rewarded with victory and a just and lasting peace. Both speeches were punctuated with applause. Sir Cyril then inspected the parade of returned men under Colonel A. Cowles. He shook hands with and chatted with a number of men. On returning to the steps of Parliament House, he again took the Royal Salute. There were cheers from the returned men and the crowd as their Excellencies left. The whole ceremony was impressive, not only for Its formality and meticulous detail but for the particularly fine bearing and precision of movement shown by the guard. The Air Force Band also roused the admiration of all who were present. The spontaneity of the cheering, too, was unmistakable, their Excellencies and family making an immediate appeal to the citizens of