ULSTER’S PREMIER.

Otago Witness, Issue 3972, 29 April 1930, Page 22

ULSTER’S PREMIER.

WELCOME AT BELFAST.

A WONDER EXPERIENCE. (From Our Own Correspondent.)

LONDON, March 21

Viscount and Viscountess Craigavon, ■who returned by the Rangitata, disembarked from the vessel immediately she berthed at Southampton, although it was nearly midnight. They motored to Portsmouth, where they stayed 'with their son-in-law and daughter. Lieutenant-comman-der Robert G. 11. Linzee, R.N., and .the Hon. Mrs Linzee. On the Saturday night Lord and Lady Craigavon were the guests at dinner of Admiral Sir Roger Keyes, Bart, K.C.8., Commander-in-Chief at Portsmouth. The other guests included Lieutenant-commander Linzee and the Hon. Sirs Linzee and Mr C. H. Blackmore. , On the Sunday night Lord and Lady Craigavon came up to London and went straight through from Euston to Stranraer, whence they crossed to Larne tor Belfast. . A warm welcome awaited them at the Midland Station, Belfast, which the boat train reached soon after 9 o’clock on Monday morning. The first to greet them when they stepped from the train was their son,’the Hon. Denis Craig. Political colleagues, personal friends, and a great many of the general public were on the platform and outside the barrier. There was a hearty cheer for the Ulster Premier when he passed though the barrier and entered his car. , Lord Craigavon had an interview with press representatives, and his first words were to express his delight at being back once again among his own people. « I want,” he went on. “to give my grateful thanks to Mr Pollock, who has acted for me in my absence, and thanks also to my other colleagues in the Government for piloting through the necessary measures while Parliament was sitting. I also want to thank the people of Ulster for carrying on in my absence and permitting me the privilege of a prolonged holiday. I return greatly benefited and, I trust, a better man for the wide experience I have gained in studying the social conditions prevailing in Australia and New Zealand.” The Premier said that one of the most interesting functions he had had to perform was the meeting and the thanking of those Orangemen who were ready to go to the assistance of Ulster in her past difficulties. Thanks to them had been long delayed, but they understood the situation thoroughly, and he need hardly 6»y that the admiration they held for the people of Ulster was beyond anything that he could record in a few words. "It made me prouder still of the Ulster stock,” said Lord Craigavon. “to observe the number of people of Northern Ireland who have succeeded in the Antipodes. . . “ I have not been long in coming to the conclusion,” he continued, " that we here in Ulster are as well off, if not better off, than the people of anywhere else. At the same time there are certain improvements that travelling in distant regions suggests, and after I have consulted with my colleagues those things may guide to still further advancement along the road of prosperity.” The Premier said he did not at that moment wish to go into details, but at a later date he would announce if anything could be done to promote still further the interests of agriculture, which, as every - one knew, was the great staple industry of the province. Whatever was done would be most cautiously considered. “ Of course,” he added, “ there must be nothing more read into this than my intense desire that our farmers should be made acquainted with the conditions prevailing elsewhere, in order to draw a comparison. I have no intention of launching any further schemes necessitating the expenditure of public funds.” Lord Craigavon also spoke of the Ulster linen industry and its trade connections with the dominions. New Zealand, he said, was one of their very best customers, and in that country, as well as in Melbourne and Sydney, his wife and he saw exhibitions of the finest of Ulster manufacture, second to none that could be staged here in “ Linenopolis ” or in London.

“ The people are most patriotic,” he declared, “ and where a preference can be given, Ulster wins the day every time. The people there are patriotic to a degree that would please the people here, and as Mr Baldwin has outlined a closer trade relationship within the Empire, I am hopeful that still further preference can be made in the sale of our beautiful

linens to the dominions.” The Prime Minister said he had been deeply touched by the warm welcome accorded to his wife and to him on their return. It was delightful once again to shake the hands of the Lord Mayor and the Lady Mayoress of Belfast. His wife and he had been at many civic receptions on their tour, but there were none they appreciated more than those of their own home town. —

Interviewed at Euston before his departure north on Sunday, Lord Craigavon said that they had had a wonderful experience. Everywhere they went they found the people kind and hospitable, and received the utmost courtesy and consideration from the civic and political leaders in New Zealand and Australia. The two Prime Ministers, Sir Joseph Ward and Mr Scullin, gave them a very cordial welcome, and Lord Craigavon said that he felt much indebted to them for the- efforts they made to add. to the pleasure and interest of the tour. "I would like to impress upon people here the many attractions which the dominions offer for a holiday tour. Every year thousands of people go to the Continent, whereas a large proportion of them might spend a very healthy, enjoyable, and instructive holiday within the Empire. If people who desire to spend a winter abroad could be induced to visit the Antipodes they would not only be trading within the Empire, but would have their minds broadened by’ the acquisition of first-hand knowledge of their own kith and kin. The more we know of the Empire the prouder we shall be of our great heritage. Speaking for myselfI can truly say that this tour has enlarged my knowledge of and deepened my affection for the Empire.”