NEW GOVERNOR TAKES OFFICE

Southland Times, Issue 24368, 24 February 1941, Page 6

NEW GOVERNOR TAKES OFFICE

BRILLIANT SCENE IN WELLINGTON WARM WELCOME TO DOMINION (United Press Association) WELLINGTON, February 22. The Governor-General designate, Marshal of the Royal Air Force Sir Cyril Newall, and Lady Newall and their family arrived this morning in brilliant weather, the train arriving at the platform promptly on the scheduled time at 8.55 a.m. The Administrator, Sir Michael Myers, who was accompanied by the Clerk of the Executive Council, Mr T. R. Aickin, entered the vice-regal carriage and greeted Sir Cyril Newall. The station platform was decorated with flags and red carpet lea to the edge of the platform, beyond which was drawn up a guard of honour from the Army School at Trentham and the Royal New Zealand Air Force. Just after 9 o'clock the Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. P. Fraser, entered the carriage and shortly afterwards Sir Cyril Newall set foot in Wellington. He was received with the Royal Salute, following which he, the Administrator and the chiefs of staffs inspected the guard of honour while the Air Force Band played in slow measure the Maori melody “E Pari Ra.” After the inspection Mr Fraser presented to Sir Cyril Newall and Lady Newall the Ministeis of the Crown and the wives of the High Commissioners for the United Kingdom and Canada, and the wives of members of the Legislative Council and the House of Representatives and the wives of the chiefs of staffs and the Commissioner of Police. The ceremony at the station closed with the Royal Salute. All these proceedings were watched from outside by an interested crowd which gathered also at the vehicle exits and cheered as the cars left. They went to the Citizens' War Memorial, where Sir Cyril Newall was presented to representatives of the Wellington and New Zealand Returned Soldiers Association and placed a wreath. Sir Cyril Newall was then driven to the Town Hall and introduced by Mr Fraser to the Mayor, Mr T. C. A. Hislop and the Mayoress. The ceremony there was informal, the Mayor introducing councillors and their wives and chief officers of the council. A quarter of an hour later Sir Cyril Newall and Lady Newall, who was carrying a bouquet of gladioli, drove to Government House, accompanied by spontaneous cheers from the people gathered outside the hall.

PLANES ROAR OVERHEAD

Sir Cyril Newall's party left Government House at 10.50 and as they proceeded through the city to Parliament House 20 Royal Air Force machines roared overhead in foi mation. The scene in Parliament Grounds was very brilliant, everything being beflagged. the flower beds being bright with colour and the ceiemony taking place under a cloudless sky. A large crowd had gathered and besides the guard of honour 300 returned men were drawn up at the dais. Preceded by two mounted policemen the cars arrived precisely on time, Sir Cyril Newall alighting as the clock was striking 11. He saluted as the ‘-present arms” was given and the opening bars of the National Anthem were played After the inspection of the guard of honour he returned to Lady Newall and their Excellencies mounted the dais to a ripple of applause. The warrant of appointment was read by Mr Aickin and Sir Cyril took the oath of allegiance and the oath of office administered by Sir Michael Myers. The guard gave the Royal Salute and the opening bars of the National Anthem were again played, his Excellency taking the salute. Mr Fraser, in extending a welcome on behalf of the Government and people, assured Sir Cyril Newall of the most earnest desire that their stay in New Zealand might be happy. They would find the people imbued with all the characteristics, spirit and the highest tradition of the British race. Men and women were inspired with the fervent wish to share to the full with theii kinsfolk in the United Kingdom and elsewhere the task of defending theii . lives and liberties and in preserving Christian civilization and the democratic way of life. He took the opportunity of stating that New Zealanders appreciated more than words could tell the splendid and inspiring example of their Majesties, the King and Queen, who were willingly and courageously sharing all the dangers to which the heroic people of Britain were exposed. Mr Fraser said New Zealand had embarked upon the war effort with the firm determination to strain every nerve and sinew and to spare no sacrifice to make its contribution the fullest and most effective within its power. He assured his Excellency that New Zealanders faced the future with no other feelings but those of full confidence in ultimate victory. In this grave and critical hour it was a matter of great satisfaction that a GovernorGeneral with so fine a record should have come to live in our midst in New Zealand. It was most appropriate in tlie present circumstances that the representative of the King should come from the armed services and from among the most conspicuous of those who had given such unstinted services to the Empire during the present conflict. KNOWLEDGE OF WARFARE “We count ourselves singularly fortunate on this occasion that New Zealand should have as Governor-General an airman of such exceptional experience, one whose profound knowledge of the problems of modern warfare in all its phases demands the very highest respect and one whose achievement in building up the Royal Air Force until it has become the finest in the world commands the undying gratitude of the British people,” said Mr Fraser. He added that the welcome was extended on behalf of both races, Maori and pakeha, and emphasized how they were bound together in a common destinv and freely united in once again offering their blood in defence of democratic ideals.

Sir Cyril Newall, in returning thanks for the welcome, said they were deeply touched and encouraged by the warmth and sincerity of the welcome and felt already among friends. They wanted themselves to be regarded not as strangers, but friends. Their arrival was a climax to many months of anticipation. He gave an assurance of their intention to devote themselves to the welfare of New Zealand. He brought a personal message from the King, who had commanded him to convey his Majesty’s best wishes to the Government and people of New Zealand. His Majesty recognized with gratitude the assistance New Zealand was giving in the prosecution of the war and his Majesty was confident that their labours would be rewarded with victory and a just and lasting peace. “I can assure you with all sincerity that no Governor-General designate has ever arrived with greater enthusiasm and eagerness,” said Sir Cyril. “I know both races of your people, your wonderful country and all it stands for in the British Empire and the world. We have read a great deal about New Zealand and her history,

and the more we read the greater becomes our admiration of those noble pioneers and settlers and of the ideals which governed their great adventure in your country’s early development. Our great desire is that we may devote our lives to the service of New Zealand and the Empire in this hour of darkness, and that, together with the people of New Zealand, we may welcome the dawn of a new and sunlit world in which we can all live in peace and security and devote our lives to the furtherance of those traditions and ideals which we all cherish so dearly,” VISIT TO DOMINION TROOPS Sir Cyril Newall mentioned that shortly before leaving England his wife and he had spent a most interesting time with New Zealand army units. The Maori battalion after a parade sang for them and gave them a haka. He had also spent a night with the New Zealand Bomber Squadron which had been doing such excellent work. They all seemed to be fit and happy, ready for anything, and they would, he knew, when the time came, show that the fighting spirit of the Anzac still lived. He said the people of England were cheerful and calm, and fully realized the danger at the very gates. They were united in an inflexible determination that the scourge which had beset the ideals of freedom and democracy should be stamped out from the face of the earth for good and all. The spirit of the people of England was truly magnificent. They' could not be beaten by intimidation. Their resolution grew. It was the citizens of the Homeland who were bearing the brunt of the attack and sacrifices beyond belief were being made daily and willingly, not only for themselves, but for all the peoples of the Empire and democracy throughout the world.

Both speeches were punctuated with applause. Sir Cyril Newall then inspected the parade of returned men under Colonel A. Cowles. He shook hands and chatted with a number of men. On returning to the steps of Parliament House he again took the Royal Salute. There were cheers from the returned men and the crowd as their Excellencies left. The whole ceremony was impressive, not only for its formality and meticulous detail, but the particularly fine bearing and precision ,of movement shown by the guards. The Air Force Band also roused the admiration of all who were present. The spontaneity of the cheering, too, was unmistakable, their Excellencies and their family making an immediate appeal to the citizens of Wellington.