VISIT OF THE PRINCE.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XLV, Issue 12019, 9 March 1920, Page 4

VISIT OF THE PRINCE.

MARTON ARRANGEMENTS. At Marton Borough Council last evening arrangements in connection with the forthcoming Royal visit were advanced another stage. The Governor-General telegraphed that alter consultation with the Hon. Sir Francis Bell, he had arranged to detail Captain.. Rhodes, his military secretary, to visit the various places on the route hy which the Prince of Wales will travel when touring New Zealand, in order to obtain an idea of what preparations the local authorities propose to make to welcome His Royal Highness. Captain Rhodes would arrive in Marton at 4.30 p.m. on Wednesday, 10th March, and remain half an hour, proceeding to Wanganui by motor car at 5 o’clock the same day.

The Minister of Internal Affairs wrote as follows :

“With regard to your suggestion that the assemblage of citizens, school children, and returned soldiers should take place at the racecourse instead of at the railway station, 1 am inclined to view that favourably. , There will be ample time later to decide that point. The condition would be that we should not be asked to extend the time hy reason of proposals for marches past and so forth.

“With regard to the addresses, I have never discouraged—in fact, I have always encouraged—the suggestion for the presentation of addresses by local authorities and local bodies, though I have sometimes suggested that neighbouring local bodies should combine in a single address. What I have always asked is that the*addresses should be simply presented and not read. The Prince will receive the addresses, which will be published, and will hand out his written replies, which will also be published. Therefore, I should be glad if your Council would present an address to the Prince, and also any other local authorities or associations who may desire to do so, but by the metnod I have suggested the presentation of addresses is a function which occupies only a very short part of the time allotted for the stop.” On the motion of the Mayor, the following resolution was unanimously passed “Having been officially informed by the Hon. Sir P. D. Bell, Minister of Internal Affairs, that His Royal Highness will motor through from Wanganui on ,24th April, arriving in Marton at 10.30 a.m., and will make a short stay within the Borough, this Council loyally and cordially, in connection with the people of Marton, with the co-operation of the Rangitikei County Council, and adjoining local bodies, extends to His Royal Highness a most hearty welcome, and trust that the public meeting to be held on Tuesday evening at the Technical School will set up the necessary committees to carry out the welcome. The Council also agrees to the erection of a platform in front of the Town Hall, 50ft. long by 30ft, broad, and to the setting aside of £SO to meet current expenses. This will carry a Government subsidy of £ for £. Also to stop all traffic at the four corners on 24th April.”