PRINCE OF WALES

Waikato Times, Volume 93, Issue 14538, 9 December 1920, Page 5

PRINCE OF WALES

HIS GUILDHALL SPEECH VALUE OF EX-SERVICE MEN. THE NEEDS FOR EMIGRATION. (Australian and N.Z. Cable Assn.) Received December 9, 5.5 p.m. LONDON, December 7. In the continuation of bis speech at bis reception at the Guildhall the Prince of Wales said:— “You will not be surprised to hear that in both Dominions I found the ex-service men the backbone of the country. (Cheers.) Think what they did voluntarily in thousands to face the great adventure of war for the Empire thousands of miles away. Can anyone dare say in the face of that fact that the same spirit that took the old sea captains and explorers across he world is not only today, hut thriving in the young British nations? (Cheers.) But then all the men are the backbone of their people, whether in the Old Country or in the Dominions.” Work of Nation Building. “I have only one plea to make in this connection. AH the British nations must work together in a spirit of comradeship if the Empire is to endure. The Dominions are putting their shoulders into the work of nation-building and development, but need our help and sympathy. We must do our utmost to appreciate their viewpoint. Here is a practical example of what I mean. All the Dominions want population from us. We have spare population, but purely business methods of emigration, which are no good nowadays. Flaming prospectuses will not draw emigration steadily from the Old Country. What is wanted most is plain human cooperation. (Loud cheers.) They on their side should welcome our emigrants as friends and comrades the moment they arrive, and make them feel at home as they made me. (Cheers.) Make them feel they’re really wanted. (Cheers.) There is no worse check on emigration than emigrants who fail; no better advertisement than emigrants who succeed. A British population is very valuable nowadays, but we must see that it remains British. (Loud cheers.) Closer intercourse will make the movement of men of capital within the Empire easier.” The Lesson Learned.

The Prince concluded a 40 minutes’ speech delivered in a clear, strong, resonant voice, without hesitation, which was easily heard in the remotest part of the Guildhall, by saying: “The lesson I’ve learned from IS months’ travel is that if we are to restore our well-being and credit, it is necessary that every nation of the Empire should pull together with the true spirit of oomradc;(ip and cooperation in all our .affairs. This can only he done by maintaining here .the same spirit which links the nations! of the Empire to us. It is due to our ancestors, who overcame the difficulties of their time, as well as the present generation, who have fought and won a great victory, that their work shall not be in vain. It can be done.” (Great cheering.)