LORD HARTINGTON

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22579, 18 November 1936, Page 15

LORD HARTINGTON

CIVIC RECEPTION LOYALTY TO BRITAIN VALUE OF THE VISIT Sincere good wishes were expressed to the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs, the Marquess of Hartington, and the Marchioness at a civic reception in the City Council chain her at mid-day yesterday, the Mayor, Mr. J'.rnest Davis, presided, and among those present were the Minister of Defence, the Hon. IT. Jones, and Mrs. Jones.

In offering a cordial welcome to the marquess and marchioness on behalf of the corporation and citizens, the Mayor said that the high position of State which Lord Hartington occupied in Great Britain brought him daily into intimate touch with questions affecting the welfare of New Zealand, and for that reason the jxxiplc of the Dominion were delighted to have hiin among them. "To ns the office you hold is necessarily most important," continued the Ma yor, "because it provides the channels of communication and consultation through which all matters affecting our relationships with the heart of the Enipiro arc directed. It is not necessary for me to emphasise that the citizens of Auckland are unswerving in their affection for the Motherland and loyal to the core to the British Constitution and the Crown of England, which serves as the most democratic of all links between the Constitution and the i>eople. We regret that your stay in Auckland is so short, and we trust that at some future date you will have an opportunity of visiting us again " Keen Desire lor Information Mr. Jones said that their guest had shown a keen desire for information and had not wasted a minute. The Government fully realised the value of his visit and of that previously paid to New Zealand by the present Secretary of State for the Dominions, Mr. Malcolm Mac Donald. It was too much to suppose that the marquess had gained a knowledge of the political opinions of all parties in New Zealand, but undoubtedly he had learned that they all believed in Britain and realised the need for strengthening the ties with lier, holding, as they did, that democracy was the best form of government for British people. Mr. Jones ended by expressing the hope that the marquess might be able to come again when the centenary of New Zealand was celebrated four years hence. Mr. T. McNab, Mayor of Mount Eden, speaking on behalf of the suburban local bodies, assured Lord Hartington that New Zealanders would remain united in that loyalty to the Motherland which their pioneering forefathers had instilled ir.to them. Slender But Strong Threads

Professor F. P. Worloy, representing the Royal Empire Society, said that the Dominions Office was one of the few official links that the Statute of Westminster had left between Britain ;:nd the other self-governing countries of the Empire. However, the slender threads binding the Empire together were many, and would not break. "1 wish to thank you most sincerely for the kindness and warmth of your welcome, which my wife and 1 appreciate very greatly indeed," said the Marquess "of Hartington in his reply. "We regret that our time in New Zealand is so short. There are many places in which we should have iiked to stay longer, especially Auckland." The marquess added that Auckland was a very beautdul city, fortunate in its harbour, its open spaces and splendid gardens and in the munificent gifts which it had received from citizens. He was sorry that he could not remain to join in tiie welcome to Sir James Parr, with whom he had been in almost daily contact, and for whom he had a sincere affection and the warmest personal admiration. He and the marchioness had enjoved everv minute of their regrettably short 'stay. The Dominion was justiy famed for its hospitality, and tho warmth of its welcome would alwavs remain with thorn.

DAY IN AUCKLAND DEPARTURE FOR SYDNEY The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs, Lord Hartington. was fully occupied in Auckland yesterday up to the time of his departure with Lady Hartington for Sydney by the Awatea in the Into afternoon. With the Minister of Defence, the Hon. F. Jones. Lord Hartington visited the Hobsonville air base. At mid-day the visitors wore accorded a civic reception at the Town Hall, and were the guests of the Mayor, Mr. Ernest Davis, to luncheon at the Grand Hotel. Lord Hartington visited the Devon port naval base in the afternoon with Mr. Jones. The Minister and Mrs. Jones, who had accompanied the visitors 011 their trip to the Waikato and Auckland, returned south by Inst night s express.