The Southland Times. PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. Luceo Non Uro. SATURDAY, JANUARY 11, 1930. WELCOME GUESTS

Southland Times, Issue 20979, 11 January 1930, Page 4

The Southland Times. PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. Luceo Non Uro. SATURDAY, JANUARY 11, 1930. WELCOME GUESTS

Southland is privileged to have as its distinguished guests this week-end Viscount Craigavon, Prime Minister, Northern Ireland, and Lady Craigavon. As a soldier Lord Craigavon has borne his full share of the Empire’s war burdens; as a statesman he has left many monuments to his wisdom and diplomacy; and as an imperialist he has done much towards the solidarity of the Empire. The scene of most of his strenuous political life has been Ulster, and the reward for his courage and for his devotion to what he believed to be the right cause has come in his tenure of the important office of Premier in Northern Ireland. He and Lady Craigavon are now enjoying a holiday in New Zealand, and it is gratifying that Southland has been included in their itinerary, for too often eminent overseas visitors leave the Dominion without seeing the beauty and the fertility of the southernmost part. Lord Craigavon has already made it clear that he has been greatly impressed with the parts of the Dominion he has so far seen, and it is safe to predict that his favourable opinion will be considerably enhanced after liis sight-seeing in Southland. It is unfortunate that his stay in the province is so short that he will have to leave unvisited many world-famous beauty spots, but to a practical farmer such as he a tour of the Western District, and, it is hoped, the Eastern District also, will bring the conviction that he has indeed been travelling in one of the richest the fairest parts of the Empire. In his remarks in the North Island, Lord Craigavon stated that he had been struck particularly with the happiness of the people and the cleanliness and tidiness of everything. In these respects also he will find Southland no different from the rest of New Zealand. When Lord Craigavon has been graciously bestowing praise on the Dominion he has made a point of adding that in his opinion the people of New Zealand fail to appreciate what a wonderful place they have settled in. This, unfortunately, is largely true. There are pessimists with little faith in the commercial stability of this fertile land. There are thousands who are utterly indifferent to its scenic grandeur. In Southland, loveliest of all provinces, a great many people have never visited the beautiful lakes, mountains and fiords with which it is so richly endowed. Yet not one but all our distinguished overseas visitors, who have seen the famous beauty spots of the world, state that they are enraptured with New Zealand. It is pleasant to know that Lord Craigavon has added his praise to that of so many other eminent men, and it is salutary that he has commented on the fact that New Zealand is not sufficiently appreciated by its own people. He will find, however, during his brief stay in Southland that, whatever lack of appreciation there is, there is no lack of loyalty and no lack of hospitality. Both he and Lady Craigavon will be warmly welcomed, not merely for themselves, but for what they represent in the British Commonwealth of Nations.