STATE WELCOME

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18582, 17 December 1934, Page 13

STATE WELCOME

SHOULDBR TO SHOULDKU

THE DUKE OF GLOUCESTER

DOMINION'S MESSAGE

ASSURANCE OF LOYALTY

PRINCE'S INTEREST IN X.Z

(Per Press Association.)

WELLINGTON, this day

Tn the course of a speech at thd otlieial luncheon to the Duke of Gloucester at Parliament House to-day. the fit. Hon. (!. W. Forbes welcomed the Prince as an. ambassador of our kinsfolk! in the United Kingdom, and referred to) the pleasure which previous Royal visits had given. New Zealand, said the Prime .Minister, was a land which was British in] birth, in sentiment, and in policy, and it was the earnest hope thai the Duke would feel entirely at home during Ins' stay in the Dominion.

"We arc proud of our British descent," he 'said, "and our desire is to prove worthy o' that priceless heritage." We in New Zealand had watched with tho utmost sympathy the deermined struggle of the people in the United Kingdom to overcome successive blows of economic adversity, and never for ond moment in the course of that struggle had we wavered in our complete confidence that tiiose qualities of courage) and imperturbility, of industry, of order, and. above all, of sound common sense and goodwill, which had carried tho British people so triumphantly through, times of crisis and peril in the past!) would again enable them to prevail over 1 the. economic difficulties of the present; time. To-day wo knew that our confidence had been justified, and we. rejoiced to note the unmistakable indications that tho Old Country once mora was gathering strength.

For ourselves we were still confronted with many difficulties and new and perplexing problems. We were endeavoring to meet them with the spirit of om? fathers—-the spirit of the British. Turning to world problems, Mr. Forbes said the greatest sources of international uneasiness to-day were undoubtedly the unsolved problems of disarmament and security: Only those in closest, touch with the position as it developed could realise the almost jpsuperablo difficulties to be overcome, and the magnitude of the efforts that had been made by the British Government in the matter. These efforts would continue to receive our enthusiastic support. However, we must "realise thai Britain must proceed with, all proper caution on the side ot security. Britain, with the entire concurrence of the Dominions, already had given a vast pledge to the world.

•'We have two messages to entrust C>> Your Royal Highness on your return to the floineland, messages which yon will find confirmed in every quarter of New Zi aland, firstly, the firmesl assurances of our affectionate loyalty to His Majesty, your father, personally, and as King ol 'the United Kingdom, Ireland, and the British Dominions beyond the seas, and. secondly, to our kinsfolk in the Homeland. ' These sentiments - I hat we are proud of cur British descent, and still prouder of cur British traditions of fair play and goodwill to all; that wo have no constitutional problems or questions of freedom of status, that we value mosl highly our membership of the British commonwealth of nations; and that we will stand shoulder to shoulder with the British people for good or ill. for better or worse, in all things and for all time."

Mr. Forbes then asked those present to drink the health of His Royal Highness.

EAGER TO LEARN

''Although yon are entertaining me in the capital, I feel that so far I am only on the threshold of New Zealand," said Hisl'oyal Highness in reply to Mr. Forbes. "You have opened the door and bidden me welcome, ami I enter eager to sea and to learn nil that I can m the course of my extensive tour throughout the country which you have so considerately arranged for me. "You have, sir, made clear the feelings of loyalty \\ ith which the King, my father, is regarded by the whole people of New Zealand, and of their attachment to the Empire. I know that when I return home [ shall be able to support your words by my personal experience. Von have made kindly reference to previous visits paid by members of my family to this country. From what they have told-me--and. incidentally, I may say J have never met any visitor fo New Zealand who did not express a. wish to return here —I have, been particularly anxious to come and see a country of whose beauty and fertility I have heard so much, and its people, both pakcha and Maori, who established so great a reputation in the war. I look forward especially lo meeting the members of the Maori race, a race of warriors and athletes who proved so staunch in their loyalty to the Empire, and such helpful partners here in the work of the country. "I know that New Zealand has led the world in many forms of social legislation, and. this fact adds greatly to the interest of visitors in going among the people ami observing the conditions under which they live, both in the cities and in the country districts. The great Dominions provide the children with a, wonderful open-air life, and it is small wonder that one sees nothing lint healthy, happy, faces on rill sides. I know that their welcome to me as 1 g|o through this Dominion will be one of my most enjoyable experiences,

"To turn for a moment to less cheerful malleis, may 1 say I bat: I realise how very serious has been the depression through which .New Zealand has recently passed. 1 sincerely hone I hat the rift HOW visible la th;' clomls is truly a por tent of fair weather, and that you will soon emerge into the sunshine, of prosperity, especially as regards the marketing of primary products of which Ihe hade of these islands mainly consists.

"I thank you. gentlemen, for your hosuitalifcy Lo me to-day, and I ask you, as representatives of Ihe people of New Zealand, to say that \ bring to them ami I heir children at. Ibis Christmas time a message of greeting and good wishes from their kinsmen at Home."