CIVIC FAREWELL

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24448, 6 November 1940, Page 6

CIVIC FAREWELL

LORD AND LADY GALWAY TRIBUTES FROM CITIZENS APPRECIATION EXPRESSED A civic' farewell to the Governor-, General, Viscount Galway, and Lady Galway, who will shortly be leaving New Zealand, was tendered by the citizens of Dunedin in the Concert' Chamber of the Town Hall last night. The Mayor, Mr A. H. Allen, presided, and there were associated with him on the platform the Mayoress, Mrs Allen, the town clerk (Mr R. A. Johnston), members of the Legislature, and representatives of the Church. Their Excellencies were attended by Captain Lord Dormer, A.D.C. A guard of honour was mounted in the Octagon by Headquarters Company, 4th Battalion, National Military Reserve, with the band of the 3rd Field Regiment, New Zealand Artillery, in attendance. As his Excellency stepped from his car he was accoraed the royal' salute, after which he inspected the guard before proceeding to the Concert Chamber for the official ceremony.

The Mayor’s Address The Mayor’s official address was as follows; — “ We, the Mayor, councillor's, and citizens of Dunedin, deeply appreciate the privilege on the occasion of your faiewell visit to this city prior to your departure from the Dominion of expressing our sincere appreciation of the valuable services rendered by your Excellency, and Lady Galway during the period you have re-' presented his Majesty among us. At all times your Excellencies have evinced the keenest interest in the welfare and progress of the Dominion, and have identified yourselves wholeheartedly with many movements having for their object the welfare and advancement of our institutions and our people. “Your term of office happily coincided with the national celebrations in connection with ihe one hundredth anniversary of the founda-ion of New Zealand as a part of the British Empire, and we desire to express our warmest appreciation of the time and enthusiastic effort which both Your Excehency and Lady Galway gave to ensure that such an historic occasion should be fittingly marked. That these efforts were crowned with success will no doubt be a source of gratification to your Excellencies and prove an abiding memory of an event so outstanding during your term as Governor-General of the Dominion. . “At this time of national stress, when' the Empire is engaged in a stupendous struggle in defence not only of its hard won liberties and free democratic institutions, but of its very existence as a Commonwealth of free nations, we gladly avail ourselves of the opportunity of assuring your Excellency of the steadfast determination of our citizens to spare no endeavour and stop at no sacrifice to bring to a victorious conclusion , the battle the Empire is now waging against the evil forces of world aggression which seek our destruction. • " "We are supported and strengthened in that resolution by the inspiring example of our beloved King and Queen, by the fortitude add heroism of the people of the Mother Country, and by the leadership which tour Excellency and Lady Galway have continuously given to our people and to many and various phases of the Dominion’s war effort. “In bidding you farewell, we desire that you should convey to His Majesty our sincere sentiments' of loyalty to the Throne, and our prayer that the blessings of peace with victory may soon rest on the Empire* We trust that your Excellencies may long be spared to continue the public and imperial service which you have so fully given in this Dominion, and that you will carry away with you very happy memories of your sojourn amongst us.” (Signed) A. H. ALLEN. Mayor. R. A. JOHNSTON, Town Clerk.

Interest in Dominion “We meet here this evening for the purpose of bidding farewell to their Excellencies Lord and Lady Galway, who for nearly six years have ,■ been the connecting link between the throne and the people of New Zealand,” the Mdyor added. “Unfortunately, your Excellencies have had only a limited opportunity of seeing this country and its people at their best, for when you arrived early in 1935 the Dominion w,as emerging from the severest economic depression it has experienced. This was followed bv the present world conflict. which has brought sorrow into the hearts and homes of bur people and a severe dislocation of our econo* mic and social life. As representatives of bur beloved King, your Excellencies have shown a constant interest in the welfare of our people and the development of this Dominion.” Their Excellencies had joined the people of New Zealand with enthusiasm and pride in the Centennial celebrations. and thereby assisted them suitably and adequately to commemorate that historic event, and to launch the nation on the second 100 years of its national life. Upon the outbreak of war. his Excellency’s appeals to support the Mother Country in this critical hour’’ of her history had helped to quicken the patriotism of the people, which had resulted in the training and sending of large numbers of young men to the battlefield, and also in preparation to 1 defend New Zealand’s own shores from enemy attack, should the need arise. Again, as chairman of the National Patriotic Fund Board, his Excellency had encouraged the people to give large sums of money for patriotic purposes, which were now being used for the help and comfort of the boys overseas, together with larger sums now being raised for the rehabilitation of New Zealand men and assistance to their dependents as might be reemired in the future.

“We deeply sympathise with our beloved King and Queen, with ihe members of the Royal Family, rnd with our kinsmen in the United Kingdom in the great mental and physical strain they are suffering in consequence of the war,” the Mayor added. “We greatly admire them for their wonderful courage, for their spirit of endurance and their determination to win. no matter at what cost, r-.nd pledge ourselves to share in their sacrifice and fight with them until victory is achieved. Please assure his Majesty of our continued love and affection, and of our loyalty, and that wc look forward with him to the reestablishment of peace amongst the nations, with victory for our arms. “ Now that your term as GovernorGeneral is drawing to a close, and you will be returning to England, we trust you have thoroughly enjoyed your sojourn amongst us, and that you will carry away with you pleasant, and lasting memories of our country and its people. We feel sure that in consequence of your personal knowledge of us and. this distant outpost of the British Empire, we will benefit greatly by your continued interest in us. We regret that your Excellency and your gracious lady must leave us in the near future. Our kindest thoughts and good wishes will accompany you, and we now take this opportunity to wish you a happy future, God speed and a safe journey home.” The Mayor then presented his Excellency, amidst applause, with a smoker’s outfit as a token of the esteem of the people of the city and a memento of his Excellency’s visits to Dunedin.

His Excellency’s Reply “ I thank you warmly tor your address and for the kind reception which you have accorded to Lady Galway and myself this evening,'’ his Excellency said in his formal reply. “We thank you also for your good wishes and for the*'kind references which you have made to our work and associations with different movements while we have been in the Dominion. “ It was indeed most gratifying to us to have been here on the occasion of the observance of New Zealand's 100th anniversary, and to have.been able to take some part in the celebrations which' marked that im-

portant milestone in the Dominion’s history. We shall retain most pleasant memories of the various interesting and spectacular ceremonies which we were fortunate enough to witness at that time. “The expression of your attachment to the King and Empire is what one would expect from one of the premier cities of this Dominion, where loyalty is so characteristic of , the people. To that loyalty the sacrifices made by yourselves and your gallant sons during the last war and the present conflict bear ample tribute. It will be my pleasure to convey to the King, on. my return, that renewed assurance of your loyalty and of the determination of the people of this part of New Zealand to spare no effort arid to stop at no sacrifice until the Empire has emerged victorious from the present struggle. “Lady Galway and I have greatly enjoyed our stay in the Dominion. We have always looked forward to our visits to this city, and shall carry away from Dunedin and Otago pleasant recollections of a and hospitable people. We wish you all possible i prosperity ; and success in the future.” , (Signed) Galway, Governor-General. Personal Message ’“That is the formal reply to the address.”'his Excellency added “but I want to express to you. on behalf of her Excellency and myself, our. deep gratitude for the kindness shown to us all over the Dominion. The loyalty ot the people to the' Throne is an outstanding feature of this Dominion', and I shall certainly express to their Majesties, on my- return, how deeply they have won the affection of the people of New Zealand and how much its people appreciate the magnificent spirit and determination their Majes-ties-have, evinced during these terrible hours of trial. V There had been one unfortunate thing about the centennial celebrations, his Excellency, added. That was; that the Duke and Duchess of Kent were not able to be present to take part in the proceedings. Owing to the war, his Royal Highness’s appointment as;■ Governor-General of Australia held had to be cancelled, and with it his projected visit to-New Zealand, but. Viscount Galway said, it was to be hoped that this world merely be a postponement and that, before many years, when peace was once more restored, the Duke and Duchess would be able to pay a visit to the Dominion. “It is a sad thing to say farewell,’ his Excellency said, “ but you must, look at this from the large point of view as we arc doing. My time is up. and it was decided that whemthe war machine was in going order that was the time for the change to be made, and my successor will come early next year. I think New Zealand is very fortunate that such a distinguished man has been selected; Sir Cyril Newall has achieved the highesj position in the Royal Air Force and has been honoured with the highest decoration that* can, be given—th** Order of Merit. He will come with experience fresh from the centre of the Empire, and I am sure that his advice and wisdom will be of the greatest service to the Dominion during the closing stages of the war.” The Governor-General referred to the work of the National Patriotic Fund Board, of which he is chairman, and to the work of the Lady Galway Guild, and said that he and Lady Galway were very happy, to be associated with those organisations. “Once more,” his Excellency concluded.- “ I thank, .you for the wonderful reception you have always given us and our children. T say that last sad word ‘good-bye,’ and wish you, the very best'of good luck and good fortune.” ' . Vocal items by Miss Dora Drake and Mr John T. Leech and violin solos by Miss, Ethel Wallace, given during the evening, were much appreciated. Dr V. E. Galway was-the accompanist.,