Duke of Gloucester

Waikato Times, Volume 116, Issue 19452, 17 December 1934, Page 10

Duke of Gloucester

THE STATE LUNCHEON.

WARM WELCOME BY PREMIER. PRIDE IN BRITISH DESCENT(By Telegraph.—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, Monday. In a speech at the official 'luncheon to the Duke of Gloucester at Parliament House the Prime Minister, lion. G. W. Forbes, welcomed the Duke as an Ambassador of our kinsfolk in the United Kingdom, and referred to the pleasure which previous Royal visits had given. New Zealand, said the Prime Minister, was a land which was British in birth, in sentiment, and in policy, and it was their earnest hope that the Duke would feel entirely at home during his tslay in the Dominion. “We are proud of our British descent,” Mr Forbes said, “and our desire is to prove worthy of that priceless heritage. We in 'New Zealand have watched with the utmost sympathy 'the determined struggle of the people in the United Kingdom to overcome the successive blows of economic adversity, and never for one moment in the course of that struggle have we wavered in our complete confidence that those qualities of courage, industry, and, above all, of sound eommonsense and goodwill, which carried tlie British people so triumphantly through the limes of crisis and peril in the past would again enable them to prevail over the economic 'difficulties of the present time. To-day we know our confidence has been justified, and we rejoice to note‘the unmistakable indications that the Old Country is once more gathering strength. )' ' “For ourselves we are still confronted with many difficulties and new perplexing problems: We are endeavouring to meet them With the spirit of our fathers —-the spirit of the British.” World Problems. Turning to world problems, Mr Forbes said the greatest source's of international uneasiness to-day were undoubtedly the unsolved problems •of disarmament and security. Only those in the. closest touch with the position as it developed could realise the ‘almost insuperable difficulties to be overcome and the magnitude’ of the efforts, that had been made by the British Government in the matter. “These efforts would continue to receive our enthusiastic support. However, we must realise that Britain must proceed with all proper caution on the side of security. Britain, with the entire concurrence of the Dominions, had already given a ■ vast pledge to the world. “We have two messages to entrust tc Your Royal Highness on your return- to the Homeland —messages which you will find confirmed in every quarter of New Zealand—firstly, the firmest assurances of our affectionate loyalty to His Majesty, your lather personally and as' King of the United. Kingdom, Ireland -and the British Dominions beyond the seas; secondly, io our kinsfolk in 'the homeland. Proud of British Traditions. "Our sentiments are that we are proud of our British descent and still prouder of our British traditions of fair play and goodwill to all, that we have no constitutional problems or questions of freedom status, that we value most highly our membership, of the British Gommomvealth of Nations, and that we will stand shoulder to shoulder with the British people for good or ill, for better for worse, in all things, for all time.” Mr Forbes then asked those present to drink the health of His Royal Highness.

THE DUKE’S REPLY

HAPPY TO BE HERE. IMPRESSED BY HOSPITALITY. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, Monday. •‘Although you are entertaining me in the capital I feel that so far I am only on the threshold of New Zealand." said the Duke in speaking in reply lo Hon. G. W. Forbes at the State luncheon. “You have opened the door and hidden me welcome, and I enter eager to see and to learn all that- I can in the course of my extensive tour throughout the country, which you have so consideratey arranged for me. "You have, sir, made clear the feelings of loyally with which the King, my father, is regarded by the people of New Zealand, and of their attachment to Hie Empire. I know that when ‘1 return home I shall he able to support your words by niy personal experience. You have made kindly reference to previous visits paid by members of my family lo this country. From what 'they have told me—and, 'incidentally, I may say l have never met any visitor to New Zealand who did not express the wish to return here— I have been particularly anxious to come and see a country of whose beauty and fertility 1 have heard so much, and its people, both pakclia and Maori, who established so great repuattion in the war. 1 look forward especially to meeting members of the Maori race, a race of warriors and athletes, who proved so staunch in their loyalty lo the Empire.and such helpful partners here in (lie work of the country. Has Led the World‘‘l know, sir, -that New Zealand has led the world in many forms of social legislation, and this fact adds greatly (o the .Interest, of a visitor in going among the people and observing the conditions under which they live, both in the cities and in Die country districts. The great Dominions providetheir children"with a wonderful openair life, and it is small wonder that one sees nothing but healthy, happy faces on all sides. I know that their welcome lo me as 1 go through this Dominion will lie one of my enjoyable experiences. -To turn for a moment to less cheerful matters, may t say that t realise how very serious has been the depression through which New Zealand has recently passed. I sincerely hope that the rift now visible in the clouds is truly a portent of fair

weather, and that you will soon emerge into the sunshine of prosperity, especially as regards the marketing of- primary products, of which the trade of these islands mainly consists.

Messago of Goodwill. "I thank you, gentlemen, for your hospitality to me to-day, and to the representatives of the people of New Zealand I say that I bring to them and their children at this Christmas, time a message of greetings and good wishes from their kinsmen at home.”

(Continued m next column.)