FAREWELL TO AGENTS GENERAL.

Hokitika Guardian, 24 January 1920, Page 1

FAREWELL TO AGENTS GENERAL.

AUSTRALIAN REPRESENTATIVES LEAVING LONDON. LONDON U.n 36 Sir Charles Wade, Agent-General for New South Wales, is leaving for Sydney on Monday. During a stay in Paris he will present, on behalf of the New South Wales Government, a number of walking sticks made of Australian woods to the members of General Pau’s Mission. Subsequently he will visit Lyons and arrange for space at the Lyons Fair for a display of New South Wales jam. Sir Charles Lucas, President of-the Colonial Institute, at a farewell luncheon to Sir Charles Wade (Agent-General for New South Wales), and Sir T. B. Robinson (Agent-General for Queensland), said he regretted that the new year was darkened for Australia by the death of that great citizen,' Sir Edmund Barton, whose name would go down to history as one of the framers of the Commonwealth Constitution. Within a brief space Lord Forrest, Sir Alfred Deakin, and Sir Edmund Barton had gone beyond our ken, but all had lived to see the daw-n of victory. The chairman, in proposing the health of the guests, said both had rendered much public service. Sir Charles Wade, replying, eulogised the spirit of the.people of Britain, notably during the great retreat of 1918, and during the railway strike. In both instances, when the fate of the nation was in the balance, the people had not lost confidence in their leaders.- He was satisfied that there was less risk in this country than elsewhere that the Bolshevik element would crop up. In regard to the Dominions, he urged that they should devote their attention to overcome the handicap of distance by quickening transit. He deprecated the cabling from Australia of reckless statements such as had recently appeared in certain London papers about the drought. Sir T. B. Robinson, in replying, paid a tribute to the work of Australian women during the war.