THE KING'S ILLNESS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 20113, 26 November 1928, Page 8

THE KING'S ILLNESS.

Members of the Royal family arc the supreme examples of those who, in answer to the demands of their position, are always on duty. This is especially true of His Majesty himself. Tho nation, though loyally appreciative of the manner in which the King devotes himself without stint to the never-ending calls upon his time and strength docs not always realise, unless some emergency points the lesson, that it entails a physical and mental strain of a very severe kind. It is when illness cornea that the realisation follows in its train, as has been shown by tho general anxiety described as resulting from tho announcement that he has been suffering from indisposition. The feeling, it can safely be said, is partly due to the instinctive devotion of the people to the Throne. Much more of it can bo attributed to the very real hold the present Royal House has on the affections of the nation. The role the King plays in public affairs is the result of personal influence which extends far beyond the limit of his prerogatives, and is made all the stronger by scrupulous observance of that limit. Independent testimony of this is most briefly and succinctly expressed by a sentence or two in a letter written by that shrewd observer of men and affairs, the late Walter Hines Pago, formerly American Ambassador to Great Britain. Writing to the President shortly after his arrival in London, Mr. Page said : "The exact influence and importance of the King in this Government I could not explain in less than three hours—if I could at all. But it is very much more important than most men think—certainly than I thought a year ago. His real power grows out of his personality." As his influence in public affairs grows out of his personality, so docs his hold on the affections of the people. Its strength has been shown by the universal anxiety when it was known the King was ill, and by the suggestion now the bulletins are favourable that more care should be taken to safeguard his health from the constant strain entailed by his unceasing round of duties.