GOVERNOR-GENERAL'S TOUR.

Taranaki Daily News, 16 November 1920, Page 5

GOVERNOR-GENERAL'S TOUR.

TABANAKI VISIT NEXT WEEK. NEW PLYMOUTH MAY BE CUT GUT. His Excellency the Governor-General (Viscount Jellicoe) will make his first visit to Turanaki next week, and will be accompanied by Lady Jellicoe. Their Excellencies will be present at the Stratford Show on People's Di\', November '25. Tlicy also propose to pay a visit to New Plymouth, but the Borough Council has decided, in view of the town's bereavement, to ask their Excellencies to defer the visit^. At last night's meeting of the New Plymouth Borough Council a letter was received from the private secretary to the Governor-General (Captain A. R. W. Curtis) expressing to councillors and citizens of New Plymouth their Excellencies profound regret at the tragic accident resulting in the 4eath of the Mayor. The letter continued: "Before this tragedy had occurred a time-table had been submitted to and approved by their Excellencies for a tour of certain boroughs in the North Island. It was proposed that their Excellencies should pay ;i visit to New Plymouth, arriving at 8.10 p.m. on November -24 and leaving at 1 p.m. on November 25. Thev hope that you may not consider it advisable for the visit to be postponed, as they are not able to arrange it for another date in the near future. If you approve of this his Excellency will be obliged if you will draw up 'a programme for the visit."

Councillors generally expressed the opinion that under the circumstances neither they nor the townspeople would he able to give the, Governor-General a welcome befitting the importance of Ilia position or the town. It was decided to reply that under ordinary circumstances the town would be delighted to have the opportunity of welcoming his Excellency, and of expressing its loyalty to the King, but while leaving the "matter entirely in the hands of the Gover-nor-General, it was felt that the town would be deeply grateful to him if, under the distressing circumstances, he could see his way to postpone his visit for the present.

THE VISIT TO STRATFORD. His Excellency the Governor-General and Lady Jellicoe will visit Stratford on November 25, and will spend a few hours at the Stratford Show. Advice to this effect was received bv the Mayor of Stratford (Mr. .T. W. McMillan)'yesterday morning, and Mr. McMillan has com- 1 municatcd with Captain A. R. \Y. Curtis, Lord Jellicoe's private secretary, ex-, pressing pleasure at the forthcoming visit of their Excellencies, and proposing that the civic ■welcome be tendered at the showgrounds. The decision of the Governor-General to visit Stratford on People's Day of the Show came as a very pleasant surprise to Stratford A. auit P.. Association, and it is probable that Lord .Tellicoe will be asked to officially open the new cattle pavilion which has just been completed at the showgrounds.