GOVERNOR-GENERAL'S LIFE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20890, 4 June 1931, Page 10

GOVERNOR-GENERAL'S LIFE

VARIED DUTIES A TONIC. TRIBUTE TO LADY BLEDISLOE. Some remarks on the strenuous life of a Governor-General were made by Lord Blodisloe at the veterans' King's Birthday luncheon yesterday. Tho Mayor, Mr. G. W. Hutchison, in proposing the health of Lord and Lady Bledisloe, said they had lived up to the high reputation which had preceded them to New Zealand. He was sure that every citizen appreciated the enormous amount of work they had accomplished in the interests of the Dominion's people. By rej.son of the special session of Parliament they had had a hard time since New Year, and he wondered at the number of appointments they had kept, always wi;h cheerfulness and readiness to answer tho call of duty.

' A Governor-General comes with a prejudice in his favour by reason of the hi|;h esteem in which his chief, the King, is held," said Lord Bledisloe, in reply. "In you l- salubrious climate—if it is salubrious—we are standing tho strain extraordinarily well. We have found oil', the truth of tho saying that rest: is alternative employment. Happily, wo are not iri the position of those who at times find themselves faced with a period of idleness. The variety of experiences wl.icli we have to undergo proves in our case a very wonderful tonic. " You, Mr. Mayor, have said that we carry out our duties cheerfully," continued His Exeeilency. " For my own part I can say that whatever cheerfulness I may show is mainly due to the influence of my wife. I have only to turn my eyes in the direction of her genial and always happy countenance to find myself taking the same benevolent outlook." The Lady Bledisloe joined heartily in the merriment which tho compliment provoked.