GOVERNOR-GENERAL

Hokitika Guardian, 20 March 1930, Page 6

GOVERNOR-GENERAL

WELCOME AT CAPITAL

YESTERDAY’S CEREMONIES

(By Telegraph—Per Press Association.)

WELLINGTON, March 19

Replying to Mr McEwan, after the Harbour Board welcome, Lord Bledisloe said the hearty welcome, encouraged them to approach with confidence the responsible duties which lay ahead of them. He gave a tribute to Wellington harbour, and the sjpJendid manner in which the Board had provided shipping facilities. The arrangements for the informal welcome at the Town Hall steps were very simple, the function occupying only a few minutes. The crowd rushed across to the cars, and the Mayor and Mrs Troup were presented to Lord and Lady Bledisloe, Mr Troup expressing the Council’s and city’s welcome and hoping that their stay in New Zealand would be enjoyable.

The Mayor then introduced the councillors and their wives. Lord Bledisloe afterwards drove off to Government House, along a route well thronged with people. A noisy reception was given at the gates by the College boys and children from St. Mark’s School. PRIME MINISTER’S WELCOME. The following message was received by Lord and .Lady Bledisloe from Sir J. Ward, at Rotorua.; —“On behalf of the Government and people of New Zealand, I desire to extend to your Excellencies a most cordial welcome to this Dominion. I am greatly disappointed that my indisposition prevents my attendance at your induction ceremony, but look iorward to having the pleasure of meeting you both personally in the near future. I sincerely trust that your term of office will be pleasant, and that your Excellencies will thoroughly enjoy your sojourn among us. Kindest wishes and personal regards.” His Excellency sent the' following reply

“Please accept the warmest thanks of Lady Bledisloe and myeslf for the very kind message you have sent to welcome us on landing in the Dominion. We both greatly regret that indisposition prevents your being present at my formal assumption of office to-day, but sincerely hope you may soon be * restored to health and strength. Wo are looking, forward very much to an early opportunity of meeting you.”

THE SWEARING IN

WELLINGTON, March 19

The grounds of Parliament House presented a scene 'bright with colour this afternoon when the ceremony of swearing in Lord Bledisloe as Gov-ernor-General took place. Flags flew gaily, in the breeze, and warm sunshine showed the picturesque grounds at their best. The ceremony, which took place strictly according to schedule, was witnessed by some thousands of people and the scene was a brilliant one. The dais was on the steps of Parliament House. Accommodation had been arranged for about five hundred official guests on either side of the entrance steps. Seats were provided for some 250 other people, to whom invitations had been sent. The guard of. honour was from the First Wellington Regiment. The places of honour, with Lord and Lady Bledisloe at the front of the platform, were occupied by the Administrator, the Chief Justice, Sir Michael Myers ; Hon. G. W. Forbes (representing the Prime Minister), and Mr H. D. Thomson (Permanent Head of the Prime Minister’s Department). Seated immediately behind were Miss Gillespie (Government House Staff),-Mrs A. C. Day, Mrs Forbes, Lady Myers, Mrs B. B. Wood, Sir Alexander Herdmau (Senior Judge in attendance oil the Chief Justice), Major Bathurst (Military Secretary to Lord Bledisloe), Air A. C. Day (Official Secretary) and Sir John Hanliam and Lieut, Elworthy, R,N. (aides-de-camp). Others seated on the platform were Ministers of the Grown, men occupying high official positions, members of Parliament, representatives of various public bodies, consuls, Government departments, Cjtc., and their wives or daughters. As Lady Bledisloe mounted the dais she was presented by Mrs B. B. Wood, daughter of the Prime Minister, with a bouquet of flowers. THE CEREMONY. The formal procedure of swearing in the Governor-General-Designate was then commenced, the reading of the Royal Warrant of Appointment being followed by the taking of the oath of allegiance, and the oath of office, administered by Sir Michael Myers. A salute of nineteen guns, fired from Point Je ruin glia m., then proclaimed the accession of Lord Bledisloe as Governor-General of New Zealand.

WELCOMING SPEECH. 111 welcoming Lord and Lady Bledisloe, the Acting Prime Minister (Hon Mr Forbes) expressed regret at the absence ■ of the Prime Minister. He conveyed a cordial welcome to Their Excellencies on behalf of the Government and people of the Dominion, which had a warm affection for His Majesty the King. His Excellency would receive every consideration ironi the people of this country wherever he went. New Zealand had been fortunate with its Governors. Right from the days of Governor Hobson, the Governors had done, a great part in strengthening the bonds of the Empire. The response New Zealand made when the Great War broke out showed how much this country was attached to the Mother Country. He extended to Their Excellencies a welcome from tlie Maori people, who were Ss loyal as the Pakelms. Nothing

would give the Maoris greater pleasure than to bn visited in their Pas by Their Excellencies. I lie lact that His Excellency took a keen interest in the farming industry gave especial pleasure to New Zealanders. The women of New Zealand, said Mr Forbes, addressing Her Excellency, would do their very best to make her feel at homo and to compensate her for being so far from home. “We feel.” Mr Forbes added, “that Lord Bledisloe in coining here, has made a considerable sacrifice. He has done bis duty to tile British Empire, and we here will do ali we can to make, his stay with us a pleasant and happy one.” Mr Forbes read the following message from the Commissioner of Raratonga: “The Arikhs, Chiefs and people ask you to convey to the GovernorGeneral a message of welcome and loyalty- from the Cook Islands.”

LORD BLED IS IDE’S SPEECH. In thanking Mr Forbes lor his friendly, loyal and patriotic speech of welcome, Lord Bledisloe expressed regret at the absence, through indisposition. of the veteran Prime Minister, Sir Joseph Ward, whose devoted services to New Zealand and to the British Empire were acknowledged without any distinction of party the world over. It was during the previ mis Prime Ministership of Sir Joseph Ward, lie said, that New Zealand was raised to her proper status as a Dominion.

His Excellency said that prior to leaving England ho had been commanded by His Majesty the King to tell the people of New Zealand that His Majesty still had the happiest recollections of the time lie spoilt in New Zealand 29 years ago—recollections which had been revived by the more recent visits of the Prince of Wales and the Duke and Duchess of York; and that he took the deepest personal interest in the welfare of the Dominion and in the well being of all classes of its inhabitants, and earnestly prayed for its continued prosperity and progress. Lord Bledisloe added that, in due course, he would deliver His Majesty's messages to the Maoris and, to the school children. Ho was pleased to ho able to sav that the King had completely recovered from his illness. Continuing Lord Bledisloe said that live years ago, on assuming office, Sir Charles Fergusson had expressed diffidence in following that renowned sailor Viscount Jellieoe. “What can I say,” asked His Excellency, “in taking up the position held by Sir Charles Fergusson, a distinguished soldier, ably seconded by his gracious lady, who rightly earned your respect and affection by his wide human sympathy, his sound judgment, untiring energy, and, above all, by tbe high ideals which have inspired all, bis works and actions. In endeavouring to follow the path >ir Charles and Lady Alice Fergusson trod, we both ask, and feel confident we will receive your sympathetic indulgence. Sir Charles and Lady Fergusson came' hack as old friends—the children of previous Governors. We come to you a.s entire strangers. \Ye have no such family or personal associations. They came as Scots to a country which has considerable Scottish population whose energy and enterprise are proverbial the. world over. .1 am not going to apologise to you for being an Englishman., particularly as your racial statistics made it clear to m.e that more than half of the population of New Zealand come of the same race. (Laughter and applause). Ethnologi- ( a.,]!, I may, however, he described as a representative of the United Kingdom, as my father was 'English, my mother was Scotch, my wife is , L-lsli. and I have an Irish branch in my family. (Renewed la tighter.) His Excellency acknowledged the references to his association with hind cultivation and animal husbandry, and added that it was in no sense as a specialist that he was embarking on his new duties, and still less as a professional authority in a country where the, conditions differed materially from those existing in the Motherland. “We come here,” His Excellency said, “conscious that we have a great deal to learn, and with a profound desire to be helpful to the Dominion. 1 look forward with consideralbie pride to taking part in the* administration of the Dominion, which, in addition to its many attractions, can boast the highest standard of education, the lowest death rate, and the largest trade turnover per head of papulation in the Empire, if not .in the world.” 11 is Excellency said that as the representative of His Majesty the King, it wouicl he his a.mbition to foster harmony and co-operation between the Motherland and New Zealand, between New Zealand and other parts of the Empire, and between ali sections of New Zealand’s loyal community. “You have given us an inspiring welcome to what has been justly termed 'God’s Own Country. His Excellency concluded. We come to share your joys and your sorrows. Your homo will he our home, your interests will Ibe our chief consideration, your highest ideals we will endeavour to make our own, and if we can succeed during our term in making others happy, we shall indeed he happy ourselves. (Applause.)

At the call of Mr Forbes, more deafening cheers were given for Their Excellencies.

ASSUMPTION OF OFFICE

WELLINGTON, March 19.

“Gazette” extras published tonight announces the assumption of tlio office of Governor-General and Cdinniunder-in-Cliief of New Zealand bv Lord Bledisloe after having taken prescribed on tbs before the (lmi Justice, Sir Michael .Myers.