THE KING AND HIS EMPIRE.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16256, 5 July 1918, Page 3

THE KING AND HIS EMPIRE.

© SPEECH BY GOVERNORGENERAL. The difficulties that have beset tho reiya of lung George, were referred to by iiis Exccliuncy tlio Governor-General in a speech, delivered to members of the Auckland Savage Ciub on batuiuay night, in. acknowledging an expression of welcome and loyalty by tho chairman of the gathering, Air S. Mikoy. His Excellency saiu they all looked to tho King as the great chief who guided the ship of State. King George had experienced a more difficult time, and had a harder row to hoe than any king who had ever sat on the British throne. He had ascended tho throne at a time when many difficulties loomed on the political horizon.' Those difficulties had not yet been overcome, and the ship of State had yet to reach port, thougn he prayed God that that time would soon arrive. The people of the Empire, who lived under a free constitution and onjoyed tho liberties it conserved, looked to tho Constitution as tho beacon fire that made life worth liviiig. In times good or ill, though he did not govern as soino kings did, tho British King was still the emblem of tlho freedom enjoyed by the children of the Empire. He shared with his people their joy?* and in sorrow he was tho first who tried to make tho way easier. His Excellence said he knew that King Goorgo would have liked nothing better than to have taken his place at tho battlefront, either on the sea or land, but that privilege was deniea him for reasons of State. He, however,, made a point of seeing that his sons shared . the dangers and' hardships of the men ( in thc field. His Excellency concluded with a tribute to the loyalty of the Dominions, as demonstrated m their war efforts. I have often heard peopl® express wonder that w6 do not bI&W uj> the enemy's MBiroinbaß fflnnps so 1 ssk- . ed an officer in tho A.OJX bow 3* is that we so rarely hear of dumps Bemg bombed, says a oorresponnent of tho "Pall Mail Gaxefcta." *They*r» tombed often enough," saifl* '£at it i» very -rar*lv -Qi&t th« oos& explodes any of the shells, fw *aa heavy bomb fall plump in the middle of »<hnnp, and beyond scattering the shell and. injuring & good many nothing ha 3 hoppened. 'The explanation, he continued, "is that shells in dumps are innocent not only of fuses, hut also of detonators. 1 These are fitted to the shells by the gunners themselves. It is tho only safe way, and a shell without a detonator is a Tory harmless , tiling,." J