VICE-REGAL VISITORS

Taranaki Daily News, 13 June 1930, Page 7

VICE-REGAL VISITORS

WARM WELCOME AT NEW PLYMOUTH

NORTH TARANAKI TOUR TO-MORROW

WEEK-END AT EGMONT HOSTELRY

I Making his first official visit to Taranaki the Governor-General, Lord Bledisloe, and Lady Bledisloe arrived at New Plymouth by the mail train last night, and at 9 p.m. Their Excellencies were accorded a civic reception at the Opera House. There was a large gathering of the publie to welcome the vice-regal visitors, and after felicitations had been expressed by representatives of the people Lord Bledisloe acknowledged the welcome in a characteristically happy speech.

To-day Their Excellencies will be engaged with a round of official functions, including an address to children in Pukekura Park, opening of the New Plymouth Savings Bank, and visits to the Boys High School, hospital, and winter show, and to-morrow, morning he will tour North Taranaki, making official calls at Inglewood and Waitara. To-morrow afternoon Their Excellencies will leave for Mount Egmont, where they intend spending the week-end.

for a drive through Pukekura Park, via the Gilbert Street entrance, but will not leave the. ears. - 12 noon. —The Governor-General officially opens the new chambers of the New Plymouth Savings Bank. 2 p.m. —Lady Bledisloe visits the public hospital. - - > 3.15 p.m.—Afternoon tea .at Chequers. 3.45 p.m.—Their Excellencies leave for the Winter Show and return to their hotel at 5 p.m. 8 pan.; —Hie Excellency pays an informal visit to the Taranaki Club, and her Excellency informally visits the Taranaki Women’s Club. To-morrow the following arrangements have been made:— 9.30 a.m.—Leave for Inglewood, where a civic reception will be tendered to the visitors. 10.30 a.m.—Leave for. Waitara, where they take morning tea at 11 o’clock and attend a civic reception at 11.30. 12 noon.—Leave for New Plymouth, visiting Mr. J. S. Jones’ dairy farm “Silverleys,” Bell Block. 1 p.m.—Arrive New Plymouth. 2.30 p.m.—Leave for North Egmont Mountain House.

ADDRESS OF WELCOME

•‘STATESMAN, FARMER, LAWYER.’ HIS EXCELLENCY’S REPLY. After being informally met at the railway station by the Mayor and councillors, Their Excellencies proceeded at once to their hotel, and arrived at the Opera House at 9 p.m. Prior to their appearance the waiting audjence was regaled with a number of excellent • selections by the Boys’ High School orchestra. Seated on the stage were a large number of well-known representatives of. both town and country com- ■ munities. Their Excellencies were greeted with a warm demonstration of applause, and on being seated Lady • Bledisloe was presented with a bouquet by little Miss Darby. The GovernorGeneral’s address' was broadcast by Station 2YB New. Plymouth. ■ The gathering on the stage was representative ■ of’-all parts of Taranaki, and apologies for absence were received from Mr. W. J. Polson (M.P. for Stratford) and Mrs. Polson, Mr. H. Mead (chairman of the Manaia Town Board), and Mrs. Mead, Mr. E. A. Pacey (Mayor of Hawera) and Mrs. Pacey, Mr. T. R. Anderson (chairman' of the Stratford County Council) and Mrs. Anderson, Mr. and Mrs. R. Cock (New Plymouth), and Messrs L. Richards (secretary of the New Plymouth branch of the Labour Party) and R. J. Pike (president of the South African War Veterans’ Association). The people on the stage, together with a number of veterans and ex-servicemen seated in front of the body of the theatre, were presented to Their Excellencies by the Mayor.

FORMAL ADDRESS OF ;WELCOME.

• The formal address of welcome read ■foy the Mayor was as follows:— May it Please Your We, the Mayor, councillors and burgesses of the borough of New Plymouth, (tender to Your Excellency and to Lady Bledisloe a most cordial welcome on this your first visit to our borough, the chief town of tfie provincial district 'of Taranaki. _' ‘ ’We gladly embrace this opportunity of reaffirming our allegiance to the Em"pire and to its Sovereign, His Gracious ■Majesty the King. We' earnestly trust that your.'stay with us, although so "short, may' be in:every way a pleasant "one.Taranaki is essentially a dairying district, and should have much of interest'to offer Your Excellency, possessing, aS you do, such a deep and intimate knowledge of both the practical and 'scientific sides of the dairying industry, and of agricultural matters generally. * We therefore venture to express the hope that on some future visit, Your Excellency may be able to spare the. time, to more thoroughly view this expensive and interesting district. We feel ©ssured that during Your Excellency's term of office as Governor-General those Invisible ' bonds of mutual attachment, <po-operation and goodwill which so firmly united the Dominion of New Zealand with the Mother Country, aud with the Empire, will be maintained and strenthencd. We wish you all attainable success in the discharge of your onerous duties, and sincerely trust that your term of office will conduce not only to the public advantage, but also to the personal happiness of Her Excellency and your-1 self.

■ Finally we pray that when in clue course the time arrives for you to leave New Zealand, you will both return to the Homeland in health and vigour, bearing with you the happiest memories of your stay in this Dominion, and in particular, kindly thoughts of those who greet you to-night. Continuing, the Mayor said it was with deep regret that they had learned of His Excellency’s recent indisposition and it was with great rejoicing that they heard that he has sufficiently recovered to visit New Plymouth (applause). It was pleasing to know that the balmy air of the queen city of the north had been of benefit to His Excellency. ■ The people of New Plymouth were exceedingly proud of the beautiful province of Taranaki,i and their only regret was that time would not permit them to show Their Excellencies all the beauty spots there were to see. Taranaki was more thickly populated than any other province in New Zealand; ft was more beautiful than any other province, and in its great primary industry it was something of great importance and value to their Vice-Regal visitors.

In conclusion, Mr. Griffiths referred to the “winsome smile" of Her Excellency and the reputation of the Gov-ernor-General as a “live wire." The people hoped during the short stay of the .distinguished visitors to show them imuchxof the beauty and industry of the , province.

MOUNT EGMONT’S GREETING. The Hon. S. G. Smith, Minister of Labour and member for New Plymouth, added his felicitations, to those of the previous speaker. It was the first occasion, he remarked, during his nine years’ representation of-New Plymouth that his Parliamentary duties had not prevented him from being associated with the Mayor in a public welcome to the Governor-General. Lord Bledisloe had a difficult task ahead of him following as he did in the footsteps of other distinguished and illustrious predecessors. Taranaki hoped to be able in the near future to provide the Dominion with oil (laughter). The indications were that the province had a very real chance of giving the Dominion a supply of- this valuable commodity. Referring in conclusion to the loyalty and perseverance of the Taranaki pioneers, Mr. Smith said there was no more loyal province in New Zealand than Taranaki. One aspect of the vice-regal • visit that particularly pleased him was that Mount Egmont, usually so unkind to Vice-Regal visitors, had revealed herself in all her glory last night. ’ THE FARMERS’ PROBLEM. On behalf fo the country people the chairman of the Taranaki County Council (Mr .J. S. Connett) extended to Their Excellencies a warm welcome. The country people were' particularly pleased, he* said, to see the Governor-Gen-eral, because of his intimacy with agricultural matters, and since his arrival he had by his knowledge of farming matters furtliQf endeared himself to the country people. Taranaki people • were intensely .loyal to the British Empire. They realised that England was Taranaki’s market and that the success of England was necessary to Taranaki’s wellbeing. He was. glad thait recent visitors to New Zealand had included men such as the Hon. L. C. M. S. Amery, Viscount Craigavon and .Sir William Morris. These men, he thought, had done an immense amount of good in . cementing v the bonds of Empire. ( New Zealand was passing through a ■ temporary depression in trade, but from the farmers’ point of view the position was being faced with as light a’ heart 1 and as’ stout a will as possible.. They j hoped to overcome the' difficulties by j increasing their production at less cost, 3

by lessening costs between producer am consumer, mosit of. which costs occurrei unfortunately at the consumers’ end of maintaining the high quality of thei produce and of embarking on. sideline; such as pigs. Unfortunately there wa; some division amongst the farmers themselves on the matter of . tariffs One section was asking for a high tra iff protection against cereal product: while another section, such as those ii the dairy industry, wanted the barriei broken down so that they could gel cheaper food for their pigs. Taranaki was essentially a loyal province, said Mr. Connett, and the people wished to do their bit to build up the great British Empire, of which they were so justly proud. . . A word of greeting on behalf of. the ex-servicemen was spoken by Colonel C. H. Weston, who said that the returned soldiers already felt that they had Their Excellencies’ sympathy and understanding. This was never more appreciated than at the present time, when many ex-servicemen were being faced with inability to work. As the constitution of the Empire stood, said Colonel Weston, His Excellency was essentially a personal representative of the King. In Canada the Governor-General was regarded in a similar light, and a High Commissioner was appointed as the representative in Canada of the British Government and people. New Zealand was fortunate in the long lino of capable Governors it had had. It had recently had a soldier and. a sailor, and if the King meant to explore the other professions -for the latest appointment he was sure His Excellency had stood out above all the others. He had been a statesman, a farmer and a lawyer. Their Excellencies would always be assured of a warm, welcome wherever they went, and the people of New Zealand appreciated the sacrifice they had made in leaving England for a period of service on the other side of the world.

LOYALTY APPRECIATED. “Allow me first," said his Excellency, in reply, “to reply formally to your welcome. I thank you sincerely for your address and for the welcome which, on behalf of the people of New Plymouth, you have extended to her Excellency and myself. I realise that your loyalty to the King personally and to the Throne and Empire is unquestionable, and that it is as firm and deeply-rooted to-day as ever in the past. I shall convey to the King your renewed assurance of that' loyalty, of the sincerity of which no one is more conscious than his Majesty himself. “It is a great pleasure to us to visit a town which has so many natural attractions, and which, in addition, is tho/dmportant centra of a district re-

Downed for the fertility and productive capacity of its pasture lands, for its industrial activity and for its rich historical associations.

“As grassland seems likely in the future to be the basis of national wellbeing in New Zealand, a great centre of pastoral industry such as New Plymouth, plays a vital part in building up the prosperity of the country, and I wish to assure you of my keen anxiety to learn what I can during my short stay among you, and of my interest in all that you may show me with a view to my affording all the help in my power , to the promotion of the highest interests of the Dominion throughout the period that I shall have the' privilege of presiding over its destinies'.

“There is only one little factor,” said his Excellency, “which daunts me in addressing this audience. The Mayor has made a reference to live wires and the fact that they are dangerous. I may say, however, that of all the inventions of science which fill me with dread, the microphone is the worst. There is one in front of me now. Still, in spite of that, I shall endeavour to speak to vou informally of the impressions I have gained from the loyal, cordial and hearty welcome Lady Bledisloe and I have received in your town. I have listened with great interest and with great gratirude to the friendly and felicitouslyworded speeches not only of the Mayor, but of Mr. Smith, whom I welcome to the new Government as cordially as he has welcomed me this evening to the town, of Mr. Connett, and of Mr. Weston.

FOOTSTEPS TO FOLLOW. “The Mayor emphasised, quite rightly, what you all acknowledge to be an undeniable fact, that New Plymouth is the prettiest centre of this Dominion. On that point, however, I express no opinion, first, because it was dark when I arrived, and secondly, because whatever are the’ thoughts of my inmost consciousness, I have to preserve independence. “Lady Bledisloe and I feel very much diffidence in having to follow in the footsteps of that great sailor, Lord Jellicoe, and that gfcat soldier and idealist, Sir Charles Fergusson and their respective wives. All we can say is that to the best of our ability and with the equipment with which we have been endowed, we shall do our utmost to follow in their steps.”

As Mr. Connett had so truly said, if there was one factor more than another which would cement for all time the bonds between Britain and the Domin-

i is, it was greater knowledge of each other’s conditions, continued Lord Bledisloe. He knew of nothing which would so bring about prosperity and happiness as frequent visits by prominent men, both from Great Britain to New Zealand, and from New Zealand to Great Britain.

The hope had been expressed by Mr. Connett that the temporary depression which was passing over the Dominion, weighing still more heavily on Britain, in fact, was affecting the whole world, might soon pass away. He had expressed the opinion that more prosperity in England would bring about a greater pur-

chasing power for the importation of primary produce and so restore New Zealand’s prosperity. But nothing that Mr. Connett had said had impressed him more than the courage and confidence he had given expression to regarding the future.

BONDS OF EMPIRE. Colonel Weston had referred to the existence of the High Commissioner as the link between the British Government on one side and the Dominion Government of Canada on the other. So far in New Zealand they had not asked for any link other than that given by the Governor-Generals. “I venture, to hope,” said Lord Bledisloe, “that during my tenure you will still? find no need to bring one to this country. “We have every reason to believe,” he continued, “that we are going to enjoy our stay in New Plymouth. In the first place, we come from the West Country; that is where Plymouth is. We were met by a whiff of Devon air as we stepped off the train. Another thing is that a very few years ago when I last landed in old Plymouth on my return from investigating foot and mouth dis-1 ease in South America, I found when I landed on the Hoe a telegram from a lady, then unmarried. I ventured to request that lady, to share her fortunes with mine. Old Plymouth, at any rate, has a very romantic interest to me.” Before coming to New Plymouth, said Lord Bledisloe, he and Lady Bledisloe had heard a great deal of the beautiful Pukekura Park and those historic areas, Pukerangiora on the one hand, and Marsland Hill on the other. They very much., wanted to see all of them, for what they had read of them seemed to confirm the Mayor’s appreciative views on New Plymouth. They wanted to see, too, what Lord Bledisloe’s very old friend, Sir Rider Haggard, called, “the I finest walk in the world,” which was to be found not far from New Plymouth on the slopes of Mount Egmont. ]

“MOST DEFINITELY BRITISH." “I have come here,” he continued, “and I am proud to have come here, as the representative of his Majesty the King, to this, the most definitely British, the most definitely agricultural, and the most incomparably loyal part of the British Empire. We all of us have the greatest respect for the King, both as an individual and as an institution. As an institution he is now the only tangible link binding the Dominions to Britlain. There are invisible bonds, common traditions, common aspirations, and the same code of law. The King, as an individual, is the most deeply respected! monarch in the world. I am certain that in no other countries in the world can the subjects of any monarch sing so sincerely ‘God Save the King.’ I, myself, am one of those who believe that during the recent dangerous illness of his Majesty it was the prayers of the people all over the British Empire that were largely responsible for bringing about his most amazing recovery. New Zealand is very dear to his Majesty, and he

asked me to assure the people of the Dominion of his deep appreciation of their loyalty to himself.” The Mayor had described the duties of a Governor-General as onerous. He would do his best, with God’s help, to carry them out, supported by the goodwill of the people and the invaluable help afforded him by the best of wives. “A large part of a Governor-General’s duties, however,” said .Lord Bledisloe, smilingly, “consists, I have found, in opening things—Parliament, bazaars, agricultural shows, even when they are nearly over, and countless letters from normal and abnormal people, chiefly from the latter, many of whom seem to think they have al Ithe qualifications to be appointed Primo Ministers of the country. I

“Whatever may be the permissable duties of a Governor-General in a thoroughly autonomous country,” .said Lord Bledisloe, “I hope I may be allowed to take an oar in your national boat and not be merely a passenger in it. Possibly, in the sphere of your pastoral pursuits, there may be some scope for me. I have already heard of the famous pastures of Taranaki, of its grass lands and its products upon which depends much of the future of New Zealand.

Lord Bledisloe then touched upon the need for uniformity of quality in the butter and cheese exported from New Zealand to the British market. He stressed the anxiety of himself and Lady Bledisloe for the welfare and prosperity of New Zealand, and spoke of a brighter future for the primary industries. “I only want to tell you,” he concluded, “that in the next few months I am going to devote myself to learning to help the. Government through its difficulties, to do my best to help raise the country to such a level of happiness, contentment and prosperity that it will have for all time an assured place in the world’s greatest empire. I thank you on behalf of my wife and' myself for your welcome. With your help and sympathy we shall do our best to serve your interests.”

TO-DAY AND TO-MORROW.

NORTH TARANAKI ITINERARY.

The programme for their Excellencies to-day is as follow:—

10 a.m. —Gathering of primary, secondary, and denominational school pupils at Pukekura Park. Adress by his Excellency; 10.30 a.m. —Walk through the park, and morning tea as the guests of the Park Board.

Should the weather be unfavourable for an out-of-doors gathering the primary and denominational schools’ pupils will meet at the Opera House at 10 a.m., and the Governor-General will attend and give an address. He will then proceed to the Boys’ High School at 10.40 and give an address there to the pupils of the Girls’ and Boys’ High Schools, followed by morning tea at the High School. If the weather in at all suitable the vice-regal party will be taken