“KIA ORA”

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXVI, 10 February 1933, Page 5

“KIA ORA”

NEW ZEALAND DAY INAUGURAL LONDON GATHERING SPEECH BY PRINCE OF WALES (United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright) LONDON, 9th February. Sir Thomas Wilford presided and 450 attended the New Zealand dinner at the Savoy. The guests included Dll' J. H. Thomas, and Indian, Canadian, Free State and Southern Rhodesian High Commissioners. The King telegraphed felicitations, and acknowledged the message of loyalty. The Prince of Wales recalled happy memories of the Dominion, particularly meeting the Dlaoris at Rotorua, where an insubordinate geyser, despite copious doses of soap, refused to perform. He would never forget the spirit of invigorating confidence, which would go far to carry New Zealand through these difficult days. He expressed appreciation of Lord Bledisloe’s gift of Waitangi estate, and complimented the Dominion on having, like Canada and Australia, a national day upon which those interested could meet and modestly blow their own trumpets. Pakeha and Dlaori formed an essential element in the life of the Dominion and vied in loyalty to Britain and worked in an exemplary spirit of co-operation. “To all appertaining to Aotearoa, I say with all my heart ‘Kia Ora.’ ” The Prince of Wales, continuing his speech said: “We are proud of Squad-ron-Leader Gayford and Flight-Lieut. Nicholette. It was bad luck that they could not complete their, journey in a single attempt. I am now more than ever convinced that I shall be able to fly to New Zealand in a British machine.”

Dir J. H. Thomas arrived in a lounge suit. He described his experience at an earlier rowdy meeting at Finsbury, at which he was called '"Judas”. He was asked: “What about Ireland?” Though he expected to he hailed as a “jolly good fellow,” the police were ejecting interrupters for ninety minutes. Dir Thomas expressed delight that Mr Dulanty (Irish Free State High Commissioner) was present at the New Zealand celebration, and said that the majority of Britons wished Ireland prosperity. The Prince laughed heartily when Sir Thomas Wilford, toasting him, referred to him as an aristocrat of the air, all of whose flights had thus far ended with him still as a member of the landed gentry. He laughed again when Sir Thomas said that America would willingly forgive the war debt in return for the Prince.

Sir Thomas Wilford read congratulatory cables from Lord Bledisloe and Dir Forbes.

The Prince of Wales recalled his visit to New Zealand in 1920 when a difference of opinion between the railwaymen and the Government caused him to lose three or four days, of good deer stalking and trout fishing. He also recalled hunting in Canterbury when he was unseated three or four times. He was trained on the hunting field to dread Avire fences, but after his New Zealand experiences he thought them comparatively easy obstacles alongside the Leicestershire fences.

Mr Thomas toasted the dominions,'to which Mr Howard Ferguson (Canada) and Mr Bruce (Australia) replied. The latter referred to Sir Thomas Wilford’s enterprise in establishing the inaugural New Zealand day, and added jocularly that certain dominions were deemed to have a monopoly of royal patronage, some even securing royal GovernorsGeneral. Perhaps it would only be just if Australia also secured a royal Governor-General. The audience included Earl Jellicoe and Lord Rutherford, the latter proposing Sir Thomas Wilford’s health. BROADCAST CLEARLY HEARD (Received 10th February, 10.45 a.m.) SYDNEY, This Day. Listeners in Australia clearly heard the Prince of Wales broadcast greetings to New Zealand.