PRINCE IN IRELAND

Taranaki Daily News, 23 December 1932, Page 7

PRINCE IN IRELAND

BELFAST’S GREAT WELCOME

tumultuous enthusiasm shown .. -V. — •' - PART .TAMEST HOUSE OPffiißD. The Prince of Wales was accorded a most enthusiastic reception on November 16 when he visited Ulster and opened the new Parliament House of Northern Ireland at Stormont. . . . From the moment that the Prince landed at Donegall Quay until he left for Government House, where he was the guest of -the Duke of Abercom, Governor of Northern Ireland—-a strenuous five hours—the tumultuous;- welcome never ceased. During the journey to Stormont rain was falling heavily, but the.-. Prince insisted that'the .backof his car should be kept open.’ .« Within the grounds of Stormont the invited guests assembled early. The processional way, nearly a mile long, was thickly lined behind the troops and contingents from the Officers’ Training Corps of the Portora School, the Campbell College and the Queen’s University. Some time before the arrival of the Prince a rousing, long continued cheer greeted Lord Carson, the former Ulster political leader. He passed the base of the 20ft. high pedestal on which a colossal. statue of himself will be placed next June or July. Scarcely less cordial was the welcome given to Lord Craigavon, to whose statesmanship Ulster has owed so much during a troubled decade.

SHOUTS OF THE THRONGS.

Long before the Prince entered the Gates of Stormont the shouts of the throngs were heard. They gathered volume as he approached, and had mounted to a roar when he stepped from his car on to the square beneath the main steps, which was lined by men of the Navy, the Army, the Air Force and the Ulster Constabulary. The ‘Prince, who was in naval uniform, stood at the salute while a band played and thousands join- < ed in singing the National Anthem. After receiving the Marquess of Londonderry, the King’s Lieutenant for County Down, the Prince entered Parliament House. Inside the building, which has been planned, as far as possible, on the lines of the Palace of Westminster, there was gathered a fine representation of the religious,.official, civic and political life of i the province. A stately procession moved from tne vestibule to the great hall where, on the main staircase, a dais had been fashioned. .-■ ‘ *' '

MESSAGE FROM THB KING.

The Prince of Wales, who had stood throughout the proceedings, declared the building open in a speech which concluded with the following special message from the King: “I rejoice to think that the Parliament of Northern Ireland, at whose first meeting I was present, has now been provided with a worthy home. I ask you to assure the people of Northern Ireland of my heartfelt wishes for their continued happiness and progress. Earlier in the speech the Prince said: “More than ten years have passed since the first meeting of the Parliament of Northern Ireland, when my father expressed the confident hope that the important matters entrusted to the control - and guidance of that Parliament would be managed with wisdom and. with moderation, with fairness and due regard to every faith and interest, and with no ’ abatement of that patriotic devotion to • the Empire which you proved so gal- ... lantly in the Great War. Much has been achieved in that time,, and. the hope has not been disappointed. "A promise was given by His Majesty s Government that a building should be provided worthy of the tasks which those who were to labour in it would be called '. upon to perform, worthy of the people of Northern Ireland, their history - traditions. That promise .has 'now been fulfilled. No one can fail.fo be struck by the nobility and beauty ...Of the' fabric 1 and the fairness of the. site dominating, a great part of your beautiful, countryside,near to the capital city of Belfast, of which you are justly proua. yet not so near as to be overshadowed by it MEN OF NORTHERN IRELAND. “It is a great, pleasure to to< be among you to-day for 'the purpose> of inaugurating this building and to convey to you the wishes of His Majesty for your welfare and prosperity. It is m y father’s earnest prayer , that you wm. meet all those difficulties which confront the whole World, as well as your.; own special problems, with the courage, tena- ; city, loyalty and devotion whichhave always characterised the men of Ireland,.and have made them famous in the annals of the Empire. “The responsibility of those who are./ entrusted with government and the making of laws can never be a light one. Heavy indeed is the burden that.dies y upon those who'have to build upon new foundations. It is a matter for rejoicing that so many of those who have carried through this difficult task with such, conspicuous success are still with youto ' give counsel and guidance in the diiticulties which lie ahead.” , '