MR AMERY.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 19173, 2 December 1927, Page 11

MR AMERY.

VISIT TO SOUTHERN PARTS.

ASHBURTOX'S RECEPTION. A reception to Mr and Mrs Amery, who arrived in Ashburton by special train at 9.4.3 a.m. yesterday, was held on the East street reserve. A platform nicely furnished was erected for the occasion. The showery weather was not conducive to a large attendance, but a fair crowd assembled, including about 400 pupils from the High and Technical Schools. Mr and Mrs Amery were received by the Mayor (Mr It. Galbraith), Mayoress (Mrs Galbraith,). and the chairman of the County Council (Mr A. Horsey).

The Mayor's Address. "I desiro on behalf of the residents of Ashburton, New Zealand, to tender to you and Mrs Amery a most; hearty welcome to our town. I understand .that it was your intention to present a shield to this town on behalf of the Ashburton Division of Devon, as arranged with Major Harvey, the member for that Division Unfortunately, this shield has not come to hand, and the interest in that part of your programme will consequently be somewhat affected. However, we take it, you will carry on as if the shield was here," said Mr Galbraith. He desired to thank most sincerely Major Harvey and the people of Ashburton Division of Devon, for the token, as a means to furthering the bonds of friendship between Ashburton, England, and its sister town in New Zealand. Acts such'as this must go a long way in furthering unity of the British Empire. It was not the first occasion on which presentations had been made from organisations in one town to the other. The local High School had exchanged flags with the Ashburton Grammar School, Devon, and the Masonic Lodge of the English constitution had exchanged photos with the Masonic Lodge in Ashburton, Devon. He also understood that both the local High School and the Masonic Lodge referred to had. adopted Lord Ashburton's coat-of-arms. "You will see that our relations with our namesake in England, have been of- the most cordial, and we trust in the near future to reciprocate their latest gift to our town." he said. They were grateful for his visit as it.was seldom they had.the pleasure of welcoming so distinguished a statesman They trusted his visit would lead to a continuance of tho good feelings between the Mother country and the Dominion, and the information that he would be ablo to acquire at first hand would be of assistance to him in his important office as Secretary of State for the Dominions, and chairman of the Empire Marketing Board. (Applause.) "I have great pleasuro in welcoming you and Mrs Amery to the county and presenting you with this history of the Ashburton County, which has been published in connexion with our jubilee, which is being celebrated this year," said Mr Horsey in addressing the Minister. As time w'as limited, he handed Mr Amery a letter, which stated, inter alia:—Our district ncedte greater population, but it must be of the right sort. We do not require tradesmen, factory workers, or town dwellers; but we do require rural workers such as farm workers and domestics—people who will be content to make their homes in the country. We could do with men - with a small amount of capital, say £IOOO, who are fit to settle on the land. Men with this capital would be able to lead a healthy, free, and independent life. There -is plenty of land available at a reasonable price, and! there, are many branches of farming for which the dis-. trict is' suitable, such as sheep-farm-ing, dairy-farming, cropping, etc. Three cheers were then given for Mr Amery, and the Silver Band played "He's a Jolly Good Fellow."

Mr Amery 's Reply. In thanking theni for the welcome, Mr Amery said: "Wherever l have gone in the British Empire during the last few months I have been made to feel at home, bnt there is no place where I more naturally feel at home than Ashburton." Relatives of his had been prominent citizens of Ashton, Devon, for many years, and it was for that reason that Major Harvey' had asked him fc> present the shield bearing the Ashburton Coat of Arms to them. He was sorry that by some miscalculation the shield had not arrived, but he would hand the Mayor a booklet containing an address on the antiquities and history of Ashburton, written by his cousin, Mr John Amery, as president ot the Devonshire Association. In describing the setting and surroundings of Ashburton, Devon, the speaker said it was a pretty little place with streets named after points of the compass as in Ashburton, New Zealand, and h nestled in a beautiful valley once known as Ashburn, from which it took its name. He hoped that as many men as possible from Ashburton, New Zealand, would visit their namesake town in the Old Country. "I would suggest that . Ashburton here should enter into touch with authorities in Devon and negotiate to nominate some of the right type of young men to migrate and settle in the Ashburton County and undertake to look after them until they make good. That would be one practical way of keeping up the link of friendship between the two places. Such interchanges keep alive the spirit or comradeship within the Empire and maintain that sweet community or interest that is so desirable," added the Minister. He thanked them for their courtesv and for coming to meet him. He only hoped that he could have stayed longer to look around. (Applause.) The 'Mayor said that when the shield arrived it" would be placed in a prominent position in' the Borough Council Chambers. He pointed out the site ot the ."War Memorial in Baring square west to the Minister. Three cheers were given for Mr and Mrs Amery as they descended from the dais to be escorted aroundl the line of High and Technical School pupils. The train moved out at 10.lt), schedule time, amid cheers.

THE STOP AT TIMARU. VISIT TO BOYS' HIGH SCHOOL. The special train conveying Mr and Mrs Aniery and party arrived in Ti-'j maru at schedule time, 11.20 a.m., J yesterday. I There was no demonstration r.t tho ] railway station, the party being met hy the Mayor (Mr G. J. Wallace), the deputv-Mavor (Mr A. L. Gee), and Councillors. Cars took the party to the Boroush Council Chambers, where a platform was erected, and where a fair number of people awaited the arn\ir Wallace, in introducing Mr \merv, said that, although the stay in Timaru was brief, the town was pleased to have had the honour of t w visit, and he expressed the thanks or he citizens to Mr Aniery for breaking nu journev. It was indeed an honour to have a visit from a politician who had done as much as Mr Amery had The most important part of Mr Anier> s vuit to Timaru was >^,-] ddrc %C was to deliver to the children J he present generation had two duties to the children—first to see that the> were loyal to the Empire, anfl second

to see that the Empire -was loyal to them. He hoped that the visit of Mr Amery would benefit both him (Mr Amery) and the people of New Zealand. "I regret that T have had only a glimpso of New Zealand, and I nm sorry that I cannot stay in Timaru longer," said Mr Amery. He would be returning to South Canterbury on Saturday, however, and lie hoped then to liavo the best time he had had m the Dominion when ho visited the back country and endeavoured to climb Mt. Cook. (Applause.)

Address to Secondary Schools. Tho duration of tho reception at the Council Chambers extended over fifteen minutes, and the cars then left for the Boys' High School, where Mr Amery inspected the Memorial Hall. He was then conducted to the lecture hall, where children of the secondary schools were assembled. The girls occupied forms in the body of the hall, and the boys stood around the walls and lined tho gallery which runs around three sides of the hall. Deafening cheers were given after the official party had taken the platform, and the boys gave their school haka. "To-day you are perhaps speaking to a boy who may be Prime Minister of Now Zealand —or, more important still, you may be speaking to the wife of a future Prime Minister," said Mr W. Thomas, Rector of the Boys' School, addressing Mr Amery. lie thanked Mr and Mrs Amery for their visit to tho school, and expressed a hope that they would go away with happy recollections. He hoped that they would go Home to say that the heart of New Zealand was sound because of the loyalty of the young New Zealander. It was not a flag-waving type of loyalty, but they were true to the Empire in every way.

"Mr and Mrs Prime Minister, wherever you may be," were the words Mr Amery used to preface his address. He had not come to the school to talk of tariffs or migration—that had to do with the senior and, in tho long run, the less important generation. 'He congratulated the children on their good fortune in being brought up in a country which possessed one uf the best educational systems in the world. "Some of you will be Prime Ministers, some duffers, some wealthy and successful, and some will ha.ve no money, but will be successful just the same," he said. All, however, would have one thing in common—they would all be citizens of New Zealand. It was one of the most beautiful countries' in the world, and had achieved greatness already. Appeal to Future Citizens. "Do your duty as citizens of New Zealand," said Mr Amery. "Help to build it up and take an interest in public affairs. There is a big field for every one of you. You aro also growing up to become citizens of something even, more splendid than your own- country—the British Empire." All school children had seen the Empire on the map covering a huge area, but there were empires just as big and containing just as many people. It did not stand for vastness, but for a form of freedom finer than that obtaining anywhere else in the world. The Great War had taught how, by standing together, victory could be had, and above all the British Empire should inspi re and encourage us to stand together. The Empire was worth giving a great deal for, and tho timo might come when tho children of today would be asked to give their lives for the Empire, as had their brothers in past generations. "The timo is coming when, by working together, you will build up something far iiner than our parents had thought of, or of which we dream," he concluded. Mrs Amery spoke briefly to the children on the schools visited during the tour, and urged them to make the best of their lives, which were being lived in splendid surroundings. The .party was ushered out of the hall amidst cheers, and the school brass band played on the lawn as the cars drove away to the railway station. "Good Old Home." Mt Ameiy had just commenced his speech outside the Borough Council when the Post Office clock chimed the hair-hour. He was forced to halt in his speech until the booming; of tho chimes had died, and then said, "Just tho way the old clock strikes at Home."

"Good old Home," called an elderly man standing near the platform. Mr Amery smiled, and between such interjections as "Good old England" and "Dear old Home," he said, "It is an inspiration to go around the world without once leaving the shadow of the Union Jack." (Applause.) "I suppose there is a similar feeling for you people of New Zealand when you visit places in the Old Country which you have read a.bout."

"I remember my feelings when people visited my school," said Mr Amery at the conclusion of his address at the High School. "The speeches were very long, and after inflicting all that upon us they hadn't the decency to ask for a holiday." T" hoys and girls assembled cheered a.- Air Amery asked the headmaster to grant the schools a holiday after the examinations. "At some time convenient —hut not too inconvenient for the children," he said.

AT DUNEDIN. IMPERIAL CO-OPERATION. (PHESS ASSOCIATION TELEGRAM.) DUNEDIN, December 1. Mr Amery and party arrived in Dunedin this evening after a pleasant railway journey from Christchurch in beautiful weather. At the civic reception, the Mayor (Mr W. B. Taverner), spoke of the progress of the Dominion, and of the necessity for the people in this young country to settle its lands, and increase its production.

Mr James Begg, representing the farming interests, dealt with Empire trade and pastoral and agricultural mat-

Mr Amery, in his reply, touched on the question of co-operation, not only as between New Zealand and the Homeland, but between every component part of the Empire, so that the full strength of the Empire might be developed. Let every portion of the Empire harness the stimulating power of its markets and in a comparatively short period the terrible monetary losses of the war would be made good. Co-operation covered many things, defence, immigration, and trade. He expressed pleasure that this Dominion had shown her solidarity with Britain in the common problem of maintaining the freedom of the seas.

Touching on migration, he said that immigrants of the right class would become a valuable asset to any country and assist to raise its standard of living. He also dealt with fiscal preferences and the operations of the Marketing Board, whose exertions were bearing fruit and would greatly extend in future. In the course of further remarks, Mr Amery dealt with questions discussed by him in other towns, and at the conclusion of his speech he was lustily cheered.

To-morrow, Messrs Whiskard and Huxley proceed to Southland to view farm land 9 and afterwards motor to Otago Central to see the effects of irrigation on fruit and agricultural lands. Subsequently Mr Amery and party will visit the West Coast and Nelson, returning to Wellington on December 14th.