THE GOVERNORGENERAL

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 232, 25 June 1920, Page 8

THE GOVERNORGENERAL

A CIVIC FAREWELL GATHERING IN THE TOWN HALL VALEDICTORY SPEECHES The Governor-General ,'Lord Liverpool) and the Countess of Liverpool wero oxtended a civio farewell-in the Town Hail •lost night. The Mayor (Mr. J. P. Luke, M.P.) presided, and the Prime Minister (Right Hon. W. F. Massey) and Mrs. Massoy, Sir Frederiok Lang (Speaker of the House of Reprijsentatives), members of tho Ministry, and members of-tho City Council wero on the platform. Tho attendance ot the' public was not large, but the guests of the evening were given a cordial reception. . The Mayor regretted that inclemont weather had thinned tile attendance. He said that the impending departure of Lord and Lady Liverpool was a cause of 6orrow' to tho ileoplo of New Zealand. Their Excellencies would take away rith

them the Tegard and esteem of the Dominion. D t uring a period of strife and danger' New Zealand had been fortunate to have at the head of its affairs a Governor-General with grip and staying power. Lord Liverpool tad always been sound on Imperial - questions, and tho citizens of ■Wellington had pleasure in presenting to him, through the Mayor and council, the following address, enclosed in a casket uiado from New Zea-; land woods:—

"To His Excellency tho Right Honourable tho Earl of Liverpool, P.C., G.C.M.G., G.8.E.,, M.V.0., GovernorGeneral and Commander-in-Chief in. and over the Dominion of New Zealand and its Dependencies May it please Your Excellency,—We, tho Mayor, councillors, and citizens of Wellington, loyal, and dutiful subjects of His Most Gracious Majesty King George the Fifth, upon the occa' sion of your retirement from tho high and honourable position of GovernorGeneral of liiis Dominion, offer you - our very sincere and hearty congratulations upon the success which has attended your administration. We further congratulate you upon tho fact- that you have held your high office (first aa Governor, dating from December 19, 1912, and later as Gover-nor-General from June 28, 1917), for a longer continuous period than any other Governor or Governor-General of any British Dominion. "Your Excellency has experienced, ■..in common with us all, the trying and momentous period of thQ Great ' European War. We are pleased to record bur appreciation of your enthusiasm and fervour in support of New Zealand's part therein. Wo further appreciate-, the fact that no previous Governor in the history of New Zealand has carried out his duties or functions under the heavy respon- ' sibilities that havo dovolved upon you by reason of the i ar. As president cf the Now Zealand Branch of the 1 British Bed Cross Society and Order of St. John, you have always taken a keenly active part in its proceedings, work which during the war was--1 so beneficial to out Expeditionary " personal inauguration of tho fund for the equipment of, and your unwearying activity in connection with the New Zealand hospital ' ehipfl Maheno and -Mamma will ever be remembered for the special benefits . thait were thus provided for our sick and wounded. During your tetm of . office It has been your great pleasure ' on two occasions to welcome a visit , of H.M.S. New Zealand, first in 1913. and. again in 1919 tho wssel had taken its part in the Great War), •when Admiral of the Heat Viscount Jellicoe visited New Zealand. You also had the honour of welcoming and entertaining our Royal guest, ■ His Eoyal Highness the Prince of Wales on the occasion of his recent '■ tour of the Dominion. The success ef his tour was due in large- measure to your care and forethought. . "Throughout your lengthy regime you have always, shown a sympathetic interest in the ' well-being of 'the people, - their social problems,, their sports and pastimes. By personal visits, you have made yourself acquainted with every part of tho . Dominion and its dependencies, ana ' have manifested your deep interest m our growth and development. We ...feel (that the spirit that you have ex- ' hlbited in our public affairs augure well for your advocacy hereafter in the councils of the Empire, of all that will, advance our country and its people, inoluding the Maoris and . their brothers, the Cook Islanders. We heartily embrace thij opportunity to express our high appreciation of the splendid services rendered by Her Excellency the Countess of Liv- • erpool during the war; of her inauguration of the fund; wlibh bears hsr name, and of her daily active co-oper-ation in the work connected therewith!} of her personal activities in , connection with the Maori Eund for the welfare, of the Native portion of the Expeditionary Force; and also of her work in conneotioji with _ the New Zealand branch of the British Bed Cross Society (of whioh she is patroness) in aid of our sick and . wounded. In bidding Ycur Excellenoies farewell, we do so with feelings of rogret at the severance of associations at all times helpful and inspiring. Wo wish Your Excellency • evety success in your future sphere of action. We wish you both long life and happiness, and that the Messing of Divine Providence may attend you. May we hope that amid the changing scenes of life, Your Excellencies may sometimes think of us in this far ..distant land, and remember that we shall ever retain pleasant

memories of your sojourn and services amongst us." / The address was signed by. the Mayor, the councillors, and tho Town Clerk.

The Mayor handed to Lady Liverpool a silver casket as a gift from the Mayor, councillors and citizens of Wellington,

Afr. B. A. Wright. M.P., said, that the stood as tho emblem of law Md order in the British Empire and that 'honour extended to the GovernorGeneral aa the representative of the J£ing wis honour done to the nation. Lord Liverpool had been in New Zealand during years of exceptional • difficulty, but ho had found time to attend to email matters aa well' as great ones. Lady Liverpool had made lioats of friends in New Zealand, and the people of the Dominion would wish Their Excellenoies God-speed and long life. The Prime Minister also paid a tri'bute to Lord and Lady Liverpool. Their Excellences had been in New Zealand for govern. eventful and strenuous years and had seen great events in the history of the Dominion. They had witnessed the response' of the youth of New Zealand to tte call of Empire. The Government had often found it necessary to ask the advice and assistance of Lord Liverpool, and an immediate responso had always been secured.. A succession of able men had represented tho Crown in this country. Mr. Massey said that the Monarchy was the strongeat of the ties that kept the Empire together, and it had never been more popular than it was at the present moment. It was . more popular to-day jn New Zealand tlian it had been six months' ago. This wasi owing to tho visit of tho Prince of Wales. A few people might disapprove of tho Monarchy, as they disapproved of the Empire. But the vast majority of the people felt that the Empire must be tela together whatever the cost u.ight be. Mr. Massey added that Lady Liverpool' had crept into the hearts of the people of this country, tnd eho would carry with her the test wishes of the women of New Zealand. He wished Their Excellencies all happiness and prosperity. The Hon. W. I). S. Mac Donald spoko appreciatively of tho ivork dono in New «nd l Lady i : No tftJier Governor hod faced 1 such an nrducuartiislc ,iw had Wlen to' the lot of Lord Liverpool during the Inst livo years. Their Excellencies had helped New Zealand in dark days, end they were departing with a notable record of fiood work behind them. Lord Liverpool thanked tho .>iayor and the Prime Minister for their kind words.

He and Lady Liverpool would never forget their association with New Zealand, and would always <lo their utmost to further the interests of the -people of the Dominion. "I cannot help recalling the moment when Lady Liverpool and I arrived in 1912," said Lord Liverpool.. "We were unknown to most jf you, we knew we had so much to learn, hut none of us here dreamt that tho most momentous events in the world's history would be enacted during my term of office ti3 representative of the King; and I desire /to place on rccord my grateful appreciation to those who have mado the path 60 easy, and so have enabled both my wife and myself to fed that any success we may have achieved has been won by the hearty co-operation of overyone who desired to assist the newcomers of 1912 to the best of their ability. Our journeys through the several parts of this country and the Pacific Islands were scarcely completed when the fateful 4th of August, J9l*. -burst upon us, and I can never forget my ieelinga when it fell to my lot surrounded by my Ministers, the representatives of tho people, and the State officials, to read the telegram informing us that the Empire was involved in war. How few of those who were then present realised what such an announcement really meant. . Through the mercy of Vroyideuce, our cause and. that of our Allies has triumphed, and we have emerged from the ordeal successful, iind we trust our nation has been purified by the refiner's firo of adversity. Terrible indeed has been tbie cost in blood end treasure, and yet we aro all convinced that the sacrifices of_ our heroes l.ave not been mado in. vain." The cost of victory had been great and normal conditions could not bo restored in a day. The need of the hour was that all men and women should work together, regardless of any personal inter, ests only recognising a common aim anil goal. Now Zealand, compared with other parts of tho world, hat. been wonderfully fortunate, and had merged from the ordeal better equipped for all eventualities than perhaps any other British possession. The cost of living was undoubtedly high, but even so compared favourably with other parts of the globe, and he thought it would he well to recognise that there was little chance of improvement until the curriculum of all mercantile transactions approached normal. Up to now tho principal difficulty had been in respect to shipping, but this position "was undoubtedly easier. The markets of the world, as never be- ; fore were clamouring for replenishment, and'success would go to those countries wliicli proved most industrious in tins race for competition. War experience indicated that the British people should take steps to make thfe Empire as seltcontained as it could be. Lord Liverpool praised tho work done by patriotic hodios during tho war. Ho referred to the extension of the authority of the DoraOr ion to Samoa, and said that he believed the islands would be administered sucPrince of Wales had come and gone, added Lord Liverpool, but his visit has strengthened the ties ot kinship which alono can maintain the unity of the Empire and the peace ot the world. Ho demonstrated to us that, while ho holds an exalted position, his whole aim is to make everyone understand that the human touch is what counts so much in our dealings with one another, and helps many a weary wayfarer over the difficult paths -oi life. He came in the hey-day and vigour of his youth, symbolical of all that is bright and good, and we fervently pray that a, career so auspiciously commenced may do much to make us understand more clearly wliat our British' Constitution really stands for When the time comcs, but may it be far distant, wo trust that ho whl reign over, a' liappv suid contented people, -reborn and uplifted by the fiery furnace of adversity through which tho nation ilias '"'Lastly, my wife and I will leave these shores, feeling that while wo aro going to a placo winch wo all call Ilomo, wo are merelv changing our abodo, we arc going to our kith, and kin, and for a season we leave our kith and kin here, out sonio day wo earnestly trust that it will bo vouchsafed to us to come and see you iigain, and renew that association which has meant so much to us during our sojourn with jou. We go from' friends to friends, and fervently hopo that tho richest blessings of Providence may bo poured on this fair land, and on thoao who ■ hove proved that ■ they -are worthy descendants of those sturdy pioneers who, 'through good report and ill, never forgot all that British citizenship stands for, and that it was their proud duty to see that tho honour of the Union Hag remained (untarnished. Onco moro i thank you ;11, pakeha and Maori, for all you have done for me and mine." The Mayoress and Mrs. Crawford then made a presentation to Lady Liverpool on behalf of tho exocutive of tlie Liver' pool I'und. Tho gift was an album of photographs, with) many signatures. Miss Coates, ropresonting tho Victoria League, also made a presentation to Lady Liverpool. Lady Liverpool, in returning thanks, said that nothing could give her moro pleasure than to curry bacfeto England tokens, of the friendships sho had formed in Now Zealand.

Tho : proceedings o'.nscd with tho National Anthem. Lord and Lady Liverpool shook hands with tho citizens present ns they left the hall.