ROYAL TOUR

Dominion, Volume 20, Issue 41, 12 November 1926, Page 8

ROYAL TOUR

DUKE AND DUCHESS OF YORK’S VISIT APPROVED ITINERARY BY TELEGRAPH. —PBESF ASSOCIATION. Auckland, November 11. The Governor-General has been ad-' vised that His Majesty the King has approved of the following itinerary for the visit of the Duke and Duchess of York:— February 22, arrive in Auckland, stay at Government House. February 23, at Auckland. , • February 24, arrive at Russell in trie morning (deep sea fishing). February 25, at Russell (deep sea fishing). . ~ , . February 26, return to Auckland in H M S. Renown and proceed by rail to Rotorua, making a short stop at Hamilton. Arrive Rotorua about 0.30 p.m. Maori concert in the evening. February 27, at Rotorua. February 28, Maori gathering at Rotorua in morning; proceed by motor to Taupo, thence to the fishing camp at Tokaanu. March 1, in camp at Tokaanu. March 2, at Tokaanu m the morning; proceed bv motor to Waimarino (National Park) to connect with the Royal train thence by night journey to New Plymouth, arriving there early in the morning; public welcome at New Plymouth; proceed by train, with short stops at Stratford and Hawera, to Wanganui, thence to Palmerston North, where they will stay the night. March 4, by train from Palmerston North to Napier, with short stops ,at Woodville, Dannevirke, and Hastings; arrive at Napier in the afternoon and sleep on the train. _ » March 3, leave Napier in the early morning by train, making a short stop at Masterton; arrive Wellington about 5 p ni.; slay at Government House. March 6 and 7, at Wellington. March 8, at Wellington; sleep on H.M.S. Renown, leaving early the following morning for Picton. March 9, arrive at Picton; proceed to Blenheim for luncheon, and thence by motor to Nelson. 'March 10, motor from Nelson on through the Buller Gorge to Westport, thence to Inangahua, where they will join the train for Greymouth, with a short stop at Reefton. IJheir Highnesses will stay at Greymouth for the March 11, proceed from Greymonth to Hokitika, thence via Otifa to Christchurch. „. /, . March 12, 13 and 14, at Christchurch. March 15, leave Christchunrch by train for Dunedin, making short stops at Ashburton, Timara (for luncheon), and Oatnaru. ' March 16 and 17, at Dunedin. March 18, leave Dunedin by train for Cromwell, thence by motor, via Lakes Hawea and Wanaka, to Pembroke, where they will stay the night. March 19, motor from Pembroke to Queenstown (afternoon on Lake Wakatipu). March 20,. at Queenstown. March . 21, proceed by lake steamer to Kingston, thence by train, via Lumsden and Gore, to Invercargill, and on to Bluff, where they will join H.M.S. Renown, anchored off Stewart Island, and depart for Australia. EXPLANATORY STATEMENT MINIMUM OF FUNCTIONS The Dominion itinerary of the Duke and Duchess of York having been announced, the Minister of Internal Affairs (Hon. R. F. Bollard) has issued a statement describing the manner in which the programme should be carried out in order to meet the wishes of the Royal visitors. Mr. Bollard stated yesterday that the details of the tour had been definitely settled by the Prime Minister (Right Hon. J. G. Coates) and approved by His Majesty the King, so that it must be clearly understood that no proposals for variation of the programme could now be entertained. “As the visit is confined to 29 days,” continued the Minister, “there has been considerable difficulty in arranging the course of travel so as to comply with the wishes of Their Royal Highnesses to see as many of the people of New Zealand as possible' in the short time and yet observe His Majestv’s express wish that the programme should not be of too arduous -a character. It is hoped that the public generally throughout New Zealand will join'in the ddsire of the Government that Their Royal Highnesses should be treated in all respects as the guests of the Dominion, and that-no undue calls should be made upon them to perform official functions. Requests have already been received from many parts of New Zealand that Their Royal Highnesses should lay foundation stones, unveil memorials, and open buildings, but owing to the limited period of the visit such functions cannot be undertaken except in possibly one or two exceptional cases in the main cities. His Roval Highness has expressed* a wish .that speeches and addresses be reduced to a minimum, as he prefers meeting the people individually to public speaking..; > , ; Addresses’of Welconje. “Local bodies and organisations desirous of presenting-’ addresses of welcome are notified, that use of the abbreviated style ‘Their Royal Highnesses the Duke and. Duchess of York’ will be entirely in order. /.It/.will, ■-■of course, be understood that all' addresses must'; be submitted to the. Gov-ernor-General for approval before permission may be' given to present an address. ■ s: ’ , ’ : , “The '■ Government lias autnpnsed the free transportation. of school, children in standard 3 and upwards to centres to be visited by. Their Royal Highnesses,- but this is only to apply where the children; can leave and return to their homes on the same day. It is intended that at each point of the visit the arrangements for reception and entertainment should be made by the local authorities and residents, subject to such arrangements being submitted to and having the approval of the Government. It is desired that evening engagements, especially, at places other than the four centres, should be avoided as much as possible The Government will subsidise and will arrange for the validation of all reasonable expenditure by local “A committee .comprising the Parliamentarv representatives of the Maoris and other Maoris > has been set up to arrange details of the Maori reception to be accorded at. Rotorua.”