THE ROYAL MESSAGE.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLVII, Issue 15223, 22 May 1920, Page 8

THE ROYAL MESSAGE.

■ v, f ' ■■'■•. ' ' TRIBUTE TO PEOPLE OF NEW LANDDEVOTION TO BRITISH UNITY AND,' IDEALS. ' , ' : PRINCE HOPES TO ttE-VtStt THE . DOMINION, (Per Press Association.) • , CHRISTCHURCH, la«t night. The following- faVeweli iness^e was handed to the Prlmo-. Minister by the Prince 1 of Wales to-night, on hoari H.M.S. Renown-.— • :. • ; To the Government and the people of New Zealand. — ' ; I My delightful visit to :-Jft v v Zrclar.d ha^ come to an 1 end, and I cannot" sail tomorrow morning wUhout gilding' -a message of affectionate fai^wull to, the ifojdfe of the Dominion. * :.;■■■ - >r : -;.; v ■ When 'l- spoke m Wellington, I tried' to ex-press the great • pleasure^ which- niy trails through .the North. :Island, rapid as- 1 they' were*-- had- given me ; and I said that I looked forward to having just a?> good a time m the South. That event has exceeded my expeQtations,- high though they were. I-can suy now that not a day has passed since I landed on 1 April 24 which has not added to the-pleas*-ure and Hie value of-, my tour. ■.. I na,ve been most deeply tpuched by- the, wonderful welcomes which- have met me •everywhere, and I will -never think 'of the peoplo of New Zealand without affection and gratitude.. .."-. . ' '■ I should like to renew the thanks which I have expressed before, to the .Government of the, Dominion and to.nll. authorities throughout New Zealand- who: have been at such pains : to make my journey punctual and. comfort able.; ..The excellence of the arrangements has enhanced ■ the. pleasure of my travels both by road 'and by rail, .and I am particularly glad ■to have seen even a very, little/ of the magnificent scenery of v mountain, river and lake for which this* Dominion is famous throughout the world. ' - . ; j I have only one regret— that my visit has, been too short lo enable me to $w; all that I should like, to have -seen.i . j have stayed -nowhere without " "wishing that my stay could be prolonged, ana 1 feel that I have, missed a great deal 1 . I am paii'cularly. sorry that owing? to shortness of time at my . I« coum ; not travel a yttle through rless: setMed districts- -ana see. for myself something *ol up-country "life. • ■-, ■ •■•■••: ;.-.\<j ••-+,»• \'-. ■■■ I' -helve seen • enough of- the .>.towits' incf country, however, to reaiise.rthat'a spieni did future awaits the -Dominion. .- Your -achievement ■•since/ -.the -country* was annexed to the/ llritish Crowiw Qiily^ighty years ago justifies the- ..almost visionary confidence of your pioneers, and constitutes an -amazing lnonument^Ot the "fern and enterprise of those who' ; have i so rapidly civilised and- developed the land •■ Two things have particularly itn- > pressed me here, " iri tint first place New Zealand is -a land not merely t vi opportunity for somcV, but" of equal »pt i portunity for all. r have never seen well-being and (happiness • more linl, formly evident throughout the population of a country and town. In the secbm this Dominion is a living example of -the fact that the European race- may take over a new country without .injustice to 'us original inhabitants, and that both may advance m mutual confidence and understanding on the 'common path. • Both races of New Zealand-^Pakena and Maori— are an essential element m > the Jife of the Dominion, and I have Been deeply gratified to. see what p*gres s the Maori people ate making .hand m hand with their British fellow. subjects. ; New Zealand is one of the greatest 'monuments of British civilfsation in t the ( world, and I have felt from end to ienu of the Dominion that there is nowhere Ithat British traditions are more trufe to British form, I -have found the strength icf your loyalty as keen and bracing as j the mountain air, and I know .that you | will- never weaken 'in your 'devotion to i British; unity and British ideals. ii The spiTH of. News ZealAn<V was "shown m ?*\ s'gnally by. the splendid troops which she sent to the Woni -m- the Glreai War and ;also hy the -way in' wtilchj tne whole country threw itself without uefeitation or reserve into the Empire's cause. It has been a special pleasure to me to meet again so many of your' returned men, and I should like to -thank them once more for turning out m such large numbers to meet me wherever I Have been, i regard them always -as my , old comradieMn-arms, ; and"r,.am happyr to f ffee, cc "i at lney ' a<re maintaining, the close | ties of .comradeship which bound -them (together m the field. New Zealand at*a J Tear nothing of. the future, i*if her manhood preserves ;the .spirit m, which -this . generation fought and endured for free- ' dom ana rlght v ..;... .-..„ , " .. . . \ . -.„ m its permanent forces the Dominion possesses a very . Valuable, nucleus) 'of ; trained officers and men. 1 have been by their smart and snldieiayiiapnearance on parade, ., and 'have been 4nU pressed by your territorials; and* cadets 'SX?J^ tur « ed number* . , ana always looked very well:! . You flare reason to bo proud of the results which your system of training: has 'acnlevcfc: Your cdnfldetice vln'.jhe future! has another solid ground. No', one Valises more keenly than I ; how heroic 'Was. the •part which the women cf-tac Empire Played m the prolonged and terrible ordeal, of war. I should' like to- ta K e itliK 'opportunity at congratulating again the women of New Zealand-ion • tUeir*. great . services and their brave ■ endurance during •vl« *#*(»- flw - yn " T% *n**fco<* oßerlntf my neartfelt sympathy- to those- whosfe gallant men will • not return- -to New > Zealand. The women, have \ proved -tliemselve^ indeed an invaluable; counterpart. -of their husbands, brothers and^son® ■'; • ■' -V >■■ . • -■■■' .Both mea ajid womoru.i -moreover have created:- a noble, .tradition .fop nheinew generation which \ &: growing- op .-to-cfay, I hjvvo. been, greatly.l ,jmpr<?ssed..by. the gatherii^s of -school . childreHj-whtch Jiavc been organised. for,;ine.<verywh;«rei.aaid 1 ftave ncvei-.,seen. a- incite .robust, > good mannered an/l proin^fn^.^^ce;" l.alway.« felt when .seeing,^ them . tbat t they were *'cry lucky ,ch.Jld*en ,to havo been iorn iivsucji surroundings/ and- aniid such l->rdniis,e, and/they; make. .me. confident that they ■ wpyld," be; ai, credit to thei^ • cbuntry and their Ifing. v ; .y - ] I must end this .niessage...now, Jtiut - j shall not say gopd-bye, -I. feel myftlf. a true New-Zealander ;in heart. I loo« upon you,,. the people of' New'Zealanc a* • my own kith and. Kin,' and i Jrust thai > you on your part \viU always regard me - as one of yourselves', < wh.b .-belongs to you as much as, to the Old Country or any of the King's ■ dominions, y There is a good part: 'of • the -world- -fon me to traverse still 'b6foro I 'can say that I have; seen 4he 'British Empire , as .• a whole, dnd I do nbt --TtAdw how;' long it, may bo before I can pay^ you/i another ) visit here; but -fchis-jat- least tr can tJiat I shall be drawn ! to New Zealand i by very happy and affectionate membriesi •and • that when opportunity: arises of fer turning here again I shaUV-take.it; with delight and without delay. Kia (sra. ; edwXrd^.