Poverty Bay Herald PUBLISHED EVERY EVENING GISBORNE, FRIDAY, DEC. 14, 1934. THE ROYAL VISIT

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18580, 14 December 1934, Page 4

Poverty Bay Herald PUBLISHED EVERY EVENING GISBORNE, FRIDAY, DEC. 14, 1934. THE ROYAL VISIT

To-morrow His Royal Highness Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester, arrives in New Zealand and commences a brief tour of the Dominion. Although we cannot mark the visit with anything like the pageantry that has been associated with his tour of Australia, which was timed for a notable occasion in connection with the history of Victoria, it can safely be said that the Prince will be received with no less warmth of welcome than was accorded him by our Australian cousins. And,that is saying a good deal, for right from Perth to Brisbane during the nine weeks of a most strenuous tour, the Australian people, whether in the mass gathering of the cities or the humble hospitality of bush camps, demonstrated in 'a wonderful manner loyalty to the throne and appreciation of the Prince’s visit. Prince Henry’s personality, it may be said, contributed very largely to this happy result. Like his royal father and brothers, lie is without swagger or “side,” and

n.s the happy knack* of interesting himself keenly in all the varied interests and fortunes of the people with whom he is brought into contact. A keen sportsman, delighting in a gallop as well as a joke, it. was natural that he should be taken to heir hearts by the open-air sport-lov-ing “Aussics,” and this same characteristic. we are sure, will equally win him popularity with New Zealanders, who are no less fond of a horse or a dog, and have, in fact, been responsible in some measure for bringing Australian racing to the standard that it occupies 10-dav. Prince Henry’s visit to the Dominion, though all too hurried, will enable him to meet many people and to see something of the industries and the social life of this Britain of the South, as well as to obtain glimpses of the beauty spots and great natural wonders. In this connection satisfaction must be felt locally that Gisborne lias been nicluded in his itinerary. Although the road surfaces are being improved and traffic, on the route will be carefully restricted when ho passes through, the Prince will have opportunity to remark on the mud leaps from which a fine district su( ..li as this suffers in its isolation and lack of railway communication. A feature of the tour will, of course, lie the visit to Rotorua, where Prince Henry is assured of a welcome from lie native people as hearty and spectacular as those which were given his parents 34 years ago and later to his brothers the Prince of Wales and Duke of York. Such visits as members of the Royal Family are able to make to the outposts of the Empire betoken an extension of that mutual interest and duty which marks the King’s own comings and goings amongst ins people in the Homeland. They have become a feature of that leadership in all forms of national life and service which has exalted tlie British monarchy and won it. the respect and esteem of people everywhere throughout, the Empire. It was truly said by Mr. Bruce, the Australian High Commissioner, on the day that the Duke of Gloucester departed from London, that “the day the monarchy goes the British Empire falls apart,’’ and just as the Royal visit has served to remind Australians of all that they owe to Crown and Flag in the first century of their coun-

try's progress, so fittingly celebrated. New Zealanders will be encouraged to reflect upon how substantially British protection and British help under the authority of the Crown have contributed to their country’s development, and how vital it is that the Imperial connection should be maintained. Although no ornate display will be looked for by His Royal Highness, who, we are sure, will be quite content with a simple contact with the people such as lias been arranged here for the afternoon of his arrival in Gisborne, every flag flown and all the bunting that can be obtained, should be proudly put out to demonstrate our appreciation of the visit, our loyalty to the Throne, and and our recognition of the importance in these days of strain and stress of maintaining the Empire strong and undivided under the wise leadership of His Majesty the King, and the members of the Royal Family.