GOVERNOR-GENERAL AT

Press, Volume LVI, Issue 16727, 9 January 1920, Page 4

GOVERNOR-GENERAL AT

KAIAPOI.

A FAREWELL VISIT. LOCAL INDUSTRIES INSFECITD.

His E\rolicncy the Governor-General and the f ounico? of Liverpool had glorious ue:it!:er for their visit to Kaiupoi yesterday. ;ind an interesting day was spent, their Exccllcncies being first accordcd a civic, reception, followed by a luncheon at the official opening of tho now stoics of the North Canterbury Cooperative Freezing rt'orks, and a visit of inspection to the big mills of tho Kaiapoi Woollen Company. Their Excellencies appeared to thoroughly enjoy their visit to tho pleasantly bituated little township. THE CIVIC RECEPTION. Tlio main street of Kaiapoi" was decorated with gaily-coloured hunting for the memorable occasion, and a big banner with the words, "A welcome from Kaiapoi," was hung across tho roadway in front of the Borough Council Chambers. Here a platform had been erected. where the civic reception took place. A fairly largo crowd gathered to welcome their ExccJlencies at noon. Among those present wero the Mayor of Kaiapoi (.Mr J. H. Black well), tho members of the Borough Council, and other local bodies, a small muster of returned soldiers, and some veterans of bygone waT v—including Gunner T. Lang, who fought in tho Indian mutiny, and Private H. French, who served under "Chinese"' Gordon in China. The band of the 13th (North Canterbury) Regiment enlivened the proceedings with a programme of music, and played the National Anthem on the arrival of their Excellencies. Mr Blackwell. after welcoming the. visitors on behalf of the Borough Council and the residents of Kaiapoi. said they all appreciated Mr G. D. Greenwood's idea of inviting iheir Excellencies up to sco the industries of tho district. It was always a pleasure to tho citizens of Kaiapoi to welcomea representative of his Majesty the King, and nt no previous visit of a Governor of the Dominion to Kaiapoi had he been recevicd in a more loval and cordial spirit. They were all proud of the splendid work done by their Excellencies in connexion with _ the war, and he trusted that their visit would prove to be nn instructive and interesting one. Mrs Blackwell. M.8.E., presented the Countess oi' Liverpool with a bonqttef. on behalf of tho women war workers of Kaiaooi. Mr C. H. Wright, Town Clerk, then rend the illnminnted address which was presented to his Excellency. Tho address was as follows: — "May it pleaas jour Excellency,—Th« ci tire lis of Kaiapoi havo pleasure in tendering a. respectful and cordial welcome to your self and htdy Liverpool, on tbo occasion of your visit to our town. I Tho bygone five years oi war have held much of stress And. strain for every patriot, and particularly heavy must h«vc been the renponoibilitias of your ■ ExcclJency'd high officea of Governor-Gene ra 1 and Coromander-in-Cihief of tho Dominion. As New Zoalanders we join in infj our respectful appreciation of . your Excellency'* magnificent work in connexion with tho despatch of our ftv® hospital bliips. 3£n.y wo also afouro Lady Liverpool that her name will ever be endeared to Sew ZcalondeTß for her leadership and organiflation of our women's splendid war ■work. 0 • Our town is proud of the fine reepowo of its young mou to the call of duty, j Over 170 Kaiapoi men havo gone to the front, 35 of whom kavo giv«n their livw. Thanks to tho valour of these men and I their comraHc» in arms, and to the fin® eipirit of tho nation, so. nobly typified in tho personal, example of h* Majofliy Kin? George V., we now rejoico that vit-tori* has ushered in tho era of peace. We feel deeply honoured by your EscAllcucies' inspection of our indr.Rtric--. These, during the war period, weie engaged in tho etipply of material military requirements, and now Again are taking their part in tho useful -work of tho »orld. Employers and employees join in welcoming your viait. Trusting Uiat your visit to Kaiapoi may he a ploaaant one. w are, yours respectfully, for the Kaiapoi Borough Council—J. H. Blackwell, ifn) or ; Charles H. "Wright, Town Clerk-'

Three hearty chccrs were then given for their EScclloncios, and in his reply to the address his Excellency said:— "I tlesiro to thank yoti for tho .cordial j welcomo which you liavo extended to her Excelloncv and myself, and for your kindlv nlfusions to our association with the affairs of this Dominion during tho years of war. The industries connected with this town havo contributed their share in providing tlic ainews or war, , and I am convinced thoy will play an . important part in the period of reconstruction which lies boforo us. Throughout the world there is a clamour for foodstuffs and woollen goods, and it is only the lack of sufficient shipping which prevents these islands from ending overseas a larger proportion of her wares. Great Britain is still suffering from a considerable food shortage, she needs also all the wool she caji obtain, and I hope that she will obtain the?" supplies from tho Dominions. Now Zealand has played a conspicuous part in tho late struggle, and I trust she ill take a prominent in assisting to rebuild and develop the industries on which llie prosperity of this country and tin.* whole Empire depend;. Lady Liverpool and I thank you for your good wi>hes. which we heartily reciprocate, and trust that the future Mill bring prosperity and happiness to all connected with vonr town and district." His E xcelleney ridded that' though 't was the first time he ha<l visited Ivniapoi officiallv and formally, yet it was by no means'tho first time he had been in the district. Ho had spent many happy times 011 tho various streams which surrounded Kaianoi. Ho had known many people, of Kaiapoi, and 1 ho was glad to siy that they had not knowu him, and ho had thoroughly enjoyed himself in consequence, because it was ple-asant to come down from tho official pedestal sometimes. He fully Tecognised. in l)is official rapacitv, .all that New Ze-aland had done iu tlir-o years of stress, and ho congratulated the Kaiapoi district, on the number of its son* who had gone> forth to do their bit for tho cause. (Applause.^ Their Excellencies were introduced tr» a good many of tho prominent citizens of Kaiapoi, .md the civic cercmony was then concludcd. FACTORY AND MILLS. Mr t». IX Greenwood, chairman of directors of the North Canterbury Farmers' Co-operative Freezing "Works, rewived their Excellencies at tlio works, and aft«r a series of photographs had been taken, a more was mado to the big wool room, whero nearly ono thousaud shareholders and supporters of the company were entertained to lunch. After the toast of the King had bceu honoured, Mr G. D. Greenwood, on behalf of the directors and shareholders of tho company;, extended a hearty wclcuuio to tho "uests of honour. Referring to tho frozen meat industry, the speaker .said he had com© to tho conclusion that New Zealand had been grossly and unju&tly treated in regard to its shipments of frozen meat. Tho priccs which wero paid for New Zealand meat were nothing liko on a parity with the prices paid by the British, (iovormnent to outside meat producing countries, [ and the farmers here would be disgustod to learn that the loss of .Td per lb or ho [ which they had born making had been going to make good tho loss the British Government had been making on ita Surchase of meat from the meal trust. [e thought they had not had the lair deal over the meat which they had expected to get. The commandeer was to cease on June 30th next, but it would be impossible for the British Government to empty our stores by that da to. Tho question which arose was. "What was the future of tho frozen meat industry going to ho?" On its success or failure depended the prosperity of the whole of the Dominion. It "the oro-

oncers wcrr* dwir.e well there would certainly not bo snffieiont money in tho country" to continuo the uno-vampled period of prosperity the Dominion w:v? now rnjoyin?- tho -war yw-nr»l the British Government on produce from New Zealand th.> sum of £110,0C0.0G0. This was an eiiunnou-s amount of Tr.°nev to cnm<» i;ito a small country. "We had unfortunate :n iocinc I? 1 insulated ships from the ir;ui.-> of tivo Tterainion. and they would ii;:d it difficult to make up the s.hon.a;:c of ships at- this time. It- now eoj-t ««!-,.->nr. £400.0C0 instead of £110.000 to huinT an insulated sh:p. and though ho thoupht it iron Id he or morning n<ivantifte to them all if they <-oi:!d a new line of steamers, yet at tho prefenfc time the oc:f of .in>tihited tonnage was prohibitive, though in G'..-I'orne ;> start nad been m.ule by tho purohaic of ono instated ste.-imor. He t.;oui;ht the onlv wnv to avoid serious disaster war. for* the' British Government to continue the commandeer of meat, at a pric© to he tixed hv conference, tmtd tho stores were sufficiently clear to allow the producers here to send fresJi-ly-killed rnea.t to those, who needed it. So far as the coinpanv was concerned, it had done its best for the shareholders, and the now addition to the capacity of the works would hold another 300,000 ctuvases._ The speaker referred to the advisability ot allmvui;; the producers to pet- the lull marker value for their wi-01. and condudcd hv proposing tho health of his hxcellency, and eulojrsincr the work that- had been done by their Excellencits while in the Dominion. (Applause.) His Excellency's health wa? yrry heartily honoured, and "Fur Me s :i Jolly Gocd Fellow" was enthusiastically sunp. His Excellency replied to tho toast with a series of remarks reported in another column, and the proceeding were broucht to an end by Mr A. Jloylo thanking the directors and the company on behalf of the visitors. After a brief inspection of the works, their Excellencies motored across to tho milLs of tho Kaiapoi Woollen Company, wliero they wero received by Mr .1. A. Frostick (chairman of directors) and other members of the Board, and ?p :it. nn interesting time looking riv mills and factory, being presented with a handsome rug cacli as a souvenir of the occasion.