THE New Zealand Herald AND DAILY SOUTHERN CROSS THURSDAY, JANUARY 18, 1934 A ROYAL VISIT

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21702, 18 January 1934, Page 8

THE New Zealand Herald AND DAILY SOUTHERN CROSS THURSDAY, JANUARY 18, 1934 A ROYAL VISIT

The King's fourth son, Prince George, will in nil probability soon pay a visit to New Zealand. He has been invited. Lord Bledisloe, on behalf of the Government and people of this country, has sent, the invitation. As such things are not done without prior regard for Royal wishes, and particularly His Majesty's pleasure, this step is to be hailed as an earnest of an event of great interest and importance to the Dominion. At any moment, following closely the official announcement that the King has been pleased to approve of the Prince's visit to Australia on the occasion of the Melbourne centenary next October, the news may come of similar approval of an extension of this Royal tour to our side of the Tasman Sea. [t will be greeted with delight. That a member of the Boyal House should grace the Melbourne celebration is eminently filling. Tn itself, the celebration will be memorable, signalising the completion of a century of remarkable progress in the life of a State contributing much to the growth of the Australian Commonwealth and to the prestige of British rule under the Southern Cross. Discovered by Captain Cook in 1770, but unoccupied with success until a shore whaling base was established in 1834 by adventurous British pioneers who founded also sheep and cattle stations, the region has a history of solid achievement spangled with romance. Nothing is more characteristic of the colonising traditions cherished in national memory than the story of Victoria and Melbourne, destined to receive names commemorative of a renowned British Queen and her first Prime Minister and to keep these names as closely associated in Australian geography as they became linked in Britain's governance soon after the new region was settled. An impressive historic touch will mark the occasion as this great-grandson of the young Queen of 1837 speaks the pride of the Motherland and receives the renewed fealty of this outlying territory. All Australia will rejoice and, as the tour extends to the other States, will share the thrill of personal contact with the uniting Crown. This Dominion, recalling its moment of British discovery on the same voyage of Cook's "Endeavour" —only six months before he first sighted Cape Everard on the Victorian coast—and thinking on its manifold relationship to Australia, will participate eagerly in spirit; but to have its own enjoyment in like fashion will be immeasurably more gratifying.

As Prince George journeys this year to South Africa and after a homecoming sets out for the South Seas, he will follow a personal bent as well as undertake an important duty. He enjoys travel and inherits his father's fondness for the sea. His early training in the Navy was undergone with zest, and he acquitted himself well. It is known that he accepted with great regret the necessity, imposed by concern for his health, to forgo a career begun at thirteen, successfully pursued for nearly thirteen years, and promising to satisfy his ambitions of duty and service. When he went to the Foreign Office in 1929 his name remained on the active list of the Navy, but as the first Prince to be employed in a Civil Department he set an example of keenness and diligence that augured weH for whatever responsibility the future might have in store for him. From time to time his name has been mentioned as that of a probable GovernorGeneral of one or other of the Dominions. By natural aptitude, bro/id education and personal acquaintance with the outer marches of the Empire he is well equipped ; indeed, the mantle of the Prince of Wales as a Royal Ambassador among the peoples of Greater Britain seems likely to fall on the shoulders of Prince George. They went together to Canada in 1927, not only because they are great comrades but also because of this close sympathy in national outlook. With tastes in common, although Prince George's great skill in music sets him notably apart from all the other sons of His Majesty, the Prince of Wales and he have alike a record of capacity, initiative and social accomplishment. Ea.ch can do well the things in the lot. of an envoy charged with a serious mission, while bearing himself naturally. All that have known the personal charm of the Prince of Wales will as ardently take this capable understudy to their hearts. That will assuredly happen in New Zealand, where the visits of His Majesty, of the Prince of Wales, and of the Duke and Duchess of York are so gratefully and happily remembered. The hope of another such experience has been cherished, and it is good to think that ere long it will be realised. But this expectation, accompanying the knowledge that its ground has been provided by the Melbourne centenary, raises another, related immediately to the affairs of this Dominion. The date of its own centenary conies on apace. Another six years and it will be upon us, It should be a celebration without equal in our history. Abundant reason exists for making it so. Already, as wise authorities have deemed essential, some preparations are afoot. They have not been begun a moment'too early, for there is much to plan if the celebration is to be, really worthy. It is not too soon to press the point that, without the presence of some member of the Royal House to represent visibly the supremely unifying bond of the great British Commonwealth, our celebration will lack an outstanding feature. New Zealand is at heart incurably, indomitably British. Both races inhabiting these islands are deter-

mined that this shall continue to be so. As our centenary approaches and remembrance of the pioneering days is stirred, there will be a quickening of the resolve. It is awakening remarkably as the word "Waitangi" gets its old meaning restored and its abiding significance emphasised. What better could embody all that is best in memory and hope than a ftoyal visit for that centenary celebration? All else attempted then by way of honour to days recalled and in prospect would thus be given distinction.