GOVERNOR-GENERAL

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3123, 29 June 1917, Page 6

GOVERNOR-GENERAL

' ME SWEARING-IN CEREMONY J,. . LORD LIVERPOOL'S NEW STATUS New Zealand's first Govevuor-General took.the oath of o£uc<*in public yesterday. A suitable enclosure hud been arranged in front of the Old Parliamentary Buildings, which were decorated with iiags. Three companies of the T.weiityeovciith the senior draft nt present in tho training enmps, formed u guard, and Senior Cadets Jined tho walks on the lower ground, where a fairly large number of citizens had assembled. Members of tho Legislature and official and military representatives woio gathered behind the enclosure. lord Liverpool, who was accompanied by the Couutoss of -Liverpool, arrived at noon. After the National Anthem •had been played bv the Treiitliam Camp Band, the Koyal Order appointing Lord Liverpool Governor-General and Coni-niander-in-Chief for New Zealand was jrcatl by Mr. ,T. F. Andrews, 1.5.0., Clerk to the Executive Council';. Tho oath of office was then administered to Lord Liverpool by the Chief Justice, Sir Robert: Stout:

At the call of the Primo Minister, threw cheers were given for the King. . Tho Prime Minister (Right Hon. "W. F. Hassey) congratulated the Governor-Gen-eral on the .-additional dignity that His Majesty tho King had conferred upon him. "Wβ have been, given to understand," said Mr. Masscy, "that this compliment is due to tho position IS'eiv Zealand has taken up in the great war iu which the Empire is now engaged, and to the growth and future prospects of tho Dominion. Wha't lias boen done today has placed New Zealand, as far as the Kins is concerned, on a .level with tho other great Dominions. When tliia fact is recognised it will be admitted by every citizen that tho right thing has been done. The courage and fighting capacity of the soldiers of New Zealand havo given this country a status in the world that it did not formerly possess. I hope, and I confidently believe, that iu future years New Zealand will live ni> to the reputation that has been won for it by its bravo sons." (Applause.)

'I'ho Eight Bon. Sir Joseph AVard also congratulated the Governor-General. Rome people might not be disposed to .attach much importance to the ceremony : that had taken place, but they should remember that New Zealand was proud of tho Constitution under which it people lived, and that the Dominion had .never wavered iu its feJilty to the King as , tho head of the Empire. "In this far portion of the Empire to-day," said Sir Joseph Ward, "wo are witnessing a, replica, of what took place in tho Dominion of Canada fifty years ago, and of what took place in. the youngest: of the ; Rreat Dominions, the Union of South Africa, when it received its Constitution from.Hia Majesty the King. The Gov-CTUors-General in all portions of the Umpire are the direct and solo representatives of the Monarchy. It is right, and fitting that\the representative of the • King in this country should have a status equal to His Majesty's representatives in the other Dominions. Everytluug (hat we can do to raise the status of Now Zealand is for the-good of our country."

His Excellency the Governor, in reply, paid :—"Fellow subjects: I. am truly sensible of the honour conferred on New Zealand by His Majesty the .King, in raising the status of the title of His BeI>resentati\B in this Domimon to that of Governor-General/ in recognition of tho services rendered by New Zealand since the' outbreak of the war. It will be my endeavour in tho future as in. tho past to do all that lies in my power for the benefits of the people of this Dominion and-her Island Dependencies." Hearty cheers Were given for the Gov-ernor-General at the call of Sir Joseph ward, aud the gathering then dispersed.

CONGRATULATIONS. The Prime Minister received yesterday the following telegram from the Mayor of Duncdiu:— _ i " Will you kindly convey to His ExcelJency . tho Governor-General the hearty congratulations of the citizens of Dunedin on the enhanced honour that , has been bestowed upon him. "(Signed) J. J. Clark, Mayor."