THE New Zealand Herald AND DAILY SOUTHERN CROSS MONDAY, MAY 29, 1939 MORE ROYAL TOURS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23358, 29 May 1939, Page 8

THE New Zealand Herald AND DAILY SOUTHERN CROSS MONDAY, MAY 29, 1939 MORE ROYAL TOURS

The news that an early visit of the King and Queen to Australia and New Zealand is being even unofficially discussed is greatly welcome in this Dominion. As day by day Their Majesties' tour of Canada is being chronicled, thought elsewhere in the Empire turns involuntarily to the ' possibility of their paying a similar visit to each of the other selfgoverning British countries oversea. There is no jealousy of Canada. The other Dominions rejoice in Canada's good fortune, and gladly recognise the right to priority that has been so graciously conceded to the people of that territory. Nothing could have been so fitting, in view of Canada's seniority, and the conjunction of a visit to the United States has made the arrangement doubly happy. v Yet utterly natural, and indeed inevitable, has been others' hope that in turn a like delight would be theirs. It is* true that, considering usual means of transport, such visits entail a longer absence of Their Majesties from , Britain than has precedent in previous reigns, and the length of ■ time occupied by the present tour can be reasonably urged against an early resumption by them of such journeying abroad. New Zealandersj at the British antipodes, readily appreciate this difficulty and are not disposed to minimise it. They are aware also that, unless the international outlook speedily and steadily brightens, the call for Their Majesties' presence in the Homeland may have to be put decisively against all competing considerations. The supreme necessities of the Empire must come first. No Dominion would venture to express a desire at variance with these necessities. Nevertheless, if the international sky definitely clears before long, an extension of such Royal tours would provide a welcome means of adding, to joyful celebration on that account, an especially memorable touch wherever personal greeting of Their Majesties might be possible. In the examination of possibilities, care must be exercised, as is made plain in to-day's news, in appraising the various claims to enjoy such a greeting at an early date. When the question of the sequence of visits is faced, the desirability of putting India next after Canada is obvious. In the ordinary course of events, the King would have held a Durbar at Delhi as his first duty and pleasure abroad. India was led to expect this. There was reason, based on the example of King George the Fifth, for the expectation. Circumstances intervened to place the visit to Canada first. It is due to India that every effort be made to give the Durbar preference in future arrangements. A realisation of this has apparently prompted thought of the possibility of combining with the journey to India a visit to Australia and New Zealand. The feasibility of this project is certainly increased by the suggestion that the service of aeroplanes should be used, at least for a portion or portions of the jnuraey, thereby making possible a visit to three oversea countries in the time normally required to visit one. However, the factor of time is not the only one to be considered. No loyal and affectionate subject of Their Majesties, supposing both went to India en route, can lightly contemplate the additional strain placed upon them in travel by air, to say nothing of any increase of peril. True, any sort of journey across half the world will involve risk of some sort; it cannot be forgotten that the commander of the Empress of Australia had anxious days and nights at the end of the recent Atlantic crossing. Yet, notwithstanding the assured increase of safety.in air travel, and the probable readiness of Their Majesties to journey thus, the peoples of the Empire would wish the factors of physical and mental comfort to be given maximum consideration. Even the probability of a spectacular arrival in India, and perhaps elsewhere, should not be allowed to weigh against these factors. Aeronautical experts ought not to have the last word about this, whatever they may urge in criticism of popular misunderstanding and fear. It is easy also to become illogical when advocating a quick succession of Royal tours abroad within the Empire. Their ministry to its cohesion and to proof of this before the world may have value, as seems to have been emphasised in the unofficial discussion. Nobody will be inclined to gainsay this altogether. But there are limits to the twin arguments, and they are rather unhappily joined. The fact that a deeply loyal sentiment prevails throughout Greater Britain is assumed rightly in all proposals for these tours; Their Majesties' peoples, to put the matter broadly, are eager to give them a tumultuous welcome, and whatever accretion of fervour may ensue will be a mere fraction compared with what already exists. The best reason for the visits is the loyal affection now felt, not the assurance that this will grow appreciably in a brief period of demonstration. As for potential enemies, their temptations to attack the Empire will be more sharply halted by a realisation that its peoples want to hail their King and Queen than by a sudden manifestation of this actual delight. Perhaps this way of looking at the matter may be more characteristic of New Zealand than of some other oversea British countries. Whatever be tlje fact, the people of this Dominion are second to none in the hope they cherish that ere long they will have the opportunity of greeting Their Majesties in person. The news now communicated, although tentative, arouses to expression the feeling they habitually cherish*