HISTORIC DOCUMENT

Taranaki Daily News, 30 August 1935, Page 4

HISTORIC DOCUMENT

MESSAGE FROM THE KING SIGNED LETTER TO PARLIAMENT. “CLOSE TO EACH OTHER IN SPIRIT.” / • • . > ' VISIT TO NEW ZEALAND RECALLED. . By Telegraph—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night A message from the King read to the House of Representatives by the Speaker, Sir Qharles Statham, this afternoon was an historic document and it will be placed in the archives of Parliament. Usually messages from His Majesty reach New Zealand either from the Secretary for the Dominions or through the i GovernorGeneral but this document was a personal letter from the King to the New Zealand Parliament over his own signature. The text of the message was as follows: “Members of the Legislative Council and of the House of Representatives of New Zealand: I am deeply grateful for the loyal and affectionate greetings contained 1 in the address presented me by my Prime Minister of the Dominion of New Zealand at St James Palace on May 8. On that historic day when representatives of my Dominions overseas assembled to offer to the Queen and myself their congratulations and good wishes, I endeavoured to express in this family gathering of Empire my joy and pride in the united affection of my peoples. “The 25 years during which I have reigned over you have been a period of stress and trial. Each year on Anzac Day New Zealand honours in solemn remembrance the courage and steadfastness displayed by the flower of her manhood in the time of war. Years of peace have also brought their difficulties and New Zealand has had her full share of suffering in the recent time of economic stress, but I am proud to think that her sons and daughters have faced those problems with the same undaunted courage as Mr. Forbes recalled in his speech on May 8. “Changes in the realm of science have brought me and my people in New Zealand into closer communication with each other, but I know from the visit which the Queen and I paid to the Dominions and from the visits in more recent years of my sons, that we lare and always have been close to each other in spirit and affection. New Zealand will take her place with the other partners in fulfilling their great task of co-operation. “In promoting the ideals of the British Empire let us dedicate ourselves anew in a mutual endeavour to solve the-pro-blems of peace as together we met the problems of war. I thank you for your good wishes to the Queen and myself and, I pray for the blessing of God on my people in New Zealand, that they may live in happiness, prosperity and peace.— George, R. 1.”