AU REVOIR

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LII, Issue 16211, 8 December 1926, Page 7

AU REVOIR

INSPIRING GATHERING . DUKE OF YORK HONORED ELOQUENT ADDRESSES (Eleo. Tel. Copyright—United Press Asm.! and N.Z. Cable Association.! (Received December S, 11 a.m.) LONDON, Dec 7. Tho guests at the Australian and New Zealand Chili's luncheon to the Duke and Duchess of York included Lord and Lady Cavan, Sir John Cockburn, tho Hon. If. V. and Mrs. Colobatch, Sir Jas. Cook, Wing-Com-tuijnder Greig, General M. flomoiMamiiug, M.H.K., Kcar-Adnrirals Share and Fmhvon, Sir Archibald Eveigall, and Sir Frederick Young. Apologies for absence were received from Mr. ,1. C. Coates and Sir Jas. Parr. Tho Duchoss looked charming in a powder-blue coat frock, and bar of.beige, a fox fur, and carrying a bouquet of pink carnations. '•Major-General Newton-Moore, tho chairman, announced that this was the last public function at which tho Duke of York would appear before his departure He wished hhn bon voyage. The King had visited Australia a quarter of a.century ago as the Duke of York,, and witnessed the birth of a nation now possessing equal status with the groat nations of the world. An equally loyal welcome awaited the present Duke. A STIRRING ADDRESS.

Mr. S. M. Bruce said: "Tho reception given you to-day is merely an augury of tho enthusiasm with which you will be received ou your arrival. A welcome awaits you surpassing any demonstration you have yet received, duo to Australia's realisation' of its privilege in being part of the Empire, but more particularly because y.m personally represent'His.Majesty, the unity of tho Empire, and the embodiment of that mystic, extraordinary thing called tho British constitution, and because our people realise the devoted'services the King and Queen and tho Royal Family give to their peoples in" all parts of the world. We shall welcome you as a human being, recognising that you arc a sports man and a true democrat.

''lt is to you and tho Royal Family wo have to look for tho embodiment of democracy nowadays," added Mr. Bruce. "Wo will welcome you bo cause of your groat interest iii social -movements, particularly your devotion to the cause of the rising generation in which the Empire's prosperity rests. They should bo the object of. all our endeavors. You will come among people who have passed',.' tho stage of infancy, and have proved to be a nation proud of their status and self-governing rights, but over remembering that they are part of tho Empire, proud of citizenship in the commonwealth of nations, and standing for all that is" most precious-in the cilivisation of the world. Yours is a groat mission as ambassador of the Empire providing tho essential personal touch. Whoa we are passing through a period of'change in our Imperial relations nothing can be more valuable than your visit, which is a great opportunity for vou. and a groat privilege for. us." (Applause). DUKE OF YORK 'if REPLY

"There is something so stimulatiHg' in a gathering of. Australians, and New Zealandcrs," said the Duke of York, in responding. "J. speak from experience. This is not the first similar gathering I have attended. We aro delighted with the thought of visiting your countries. 1 count it a high honor being asked to open Canberra, which, I trust, will mark a new period of prosperity in Australia, 'Go and see for yourselves' is a lino precept. Travel is becoming quicker and easier to the furthest parts of tho Empire. Lord Stonehaven traverses vast stretches by aeroplane as quickly as ti train journey from London to Edinburg; Sir .Alan Cobham flies to Australia and back in a few weeks; Mr. Bruce, sends a wireless-message from Rugby and receives a reply in 23 minutes. It may not be long* before Mr. Coates in Wellington cm talk wirelessly with London, and receive a reply in 23 seconds.

"There is a risk that inventors will go on inventing until it is impossible to travel because you will bo swept beyond your ■ destination in the moment of starting," he continued, "wherefore we are hastening to .see Australia before the progress of ■science' defeats its own ends. As. R. L. Stevenson, who made his home on an island in the ocean washing your shores said, 'lt is better to travel hopefully, than to arrive,' but with us the welcome awaiting us is better than tho journey, however attractive. Members of the last Conference have hardly seen Britain at its best. We have been undergoing a severe industrial difficulty. The burden lies heavily on us, but the Old Country is not dime yet--far from it. (Cheojs.) There is leeway to make up, but we shall coiuo through, triumphant, tho first to rejoice being our overseas kinsmen. 1 hope that the Conference delegates will take back messages of our warm affection. 1 shall not. say 'good-bye/ But 'au re voir.' "

FUTURE OF WIRELESS. Mr. L. C. M. S. Amery, in proposing the toast of the chairman, said: "The Duke of York's quotation from Stevenson reminded me of a certain prince who desired to attend an international-cele-bration at Malta. He returned fruitlessly, his admiral explaining that there was no such place, because he had hunted the Mediterranean up and down, and could not find it. I trust that the Renown will be able to find so modest a shrinking little spot as Australia (Laughter) ahd, also find her way back as so many visiting Australia have not. seemed able to do. " I am thinking of the future, when the Prime Ministers of Australia will enter a high power wireless station at Canberra, after which their disintegrated messages will be reassembled at Itugby. Serious eonslitiititu.al problems inighi arise if Mr. Hughes' and General llerl/.og Hashed simultaneously and got mixed up, but the Duke and Duchess will nob be exposed to this risk. They represent the Crown, which, since the Conference, stands'out more clearly than ever as one great uniting factor through the Kmpire. The Empire has one Crown, and one great body is subject of that Crown. United in loyalty to it, and through it, to each other, tho Crown is not merely a mystic symbol of our unity. It is something personal, human, friendly, and .democratic, and, therefore, the value of its representatives establishing contact not only with Britons, but with the Dominions people, is inestimable." Sir Newton Moore, in responding, recalled his commanding the 1901 Royal escort to Australia to tho then Duke of York, wherefore it was most interesting that he should preside at a valedictory gathering to tho present Duke.