AUSTRALIAN TOUR.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 3603, 24 February 1927, Page 4

AUSTRALIAN TOUR.

VICTORIA J) ISSATISI'TJSD. Much dissatisfaction has been caused

in the country centres of Victoria over arrangements for the Duke . and Duchess of York’s visit. Of eight days devoted to Victoria, all will be spent in Melbourne. Only one country centre, Ballarat, will bo officially visited. Their Royal Highnesses will be calling there for half an hour en route to Adelaide. Mr Bruce, replying to protests, said that Melbourne, being the Federal capital, the programme had necessarily to include important Federal functions as well as those of the State, and within the time available it was impossible for tho Duke and Duchess to visit all parts. The programme had been drawn up by the Federal Government in order to make reasonable provision for the vistore’ rest and comfort. —Press Association. SYDNEY PREPARING. ELABORATE FUNCTIONS. SYDNEY, Feb. 22. Preparations for the Royal visit are well forward. They include many elaborate functions, mostly confined to the city. There is some discontent owing to the country centres being cut out. but this is unavoidable owing to the shortness of the time available. The day of the arrival has been proclaimed a public holiday. A discordant note was struck at a conference of the-trades union militant section. A resolution was carried in favour of boycotting the Royal visit, declaring that all the celebrations were anti-working class. — Press Association. RELATIONS TO. MOTHERLAND. " SPIRIT IN NEW ZEALAND. LONDON, Feb. 21. !; On the occasion of the Renown’s arrival in New Zealand the Times in a leader stresses that though the farthest removed of all the Dominions; New Zealand is still the closest in spirit to the parent land. It recalls the feeling in New Zealand that the Inter-relations Report would necessitate consent to the loosening of the bonds, but that Mr Coates had since put the report in its. proper perspective, showing that New Zealand was doing a real service to the Empire by its acceptance unsought of the implications of equal status. The leader adds: “The Duke and Duchess of York will be speaking for all the King’s subjects in Britain when they express the warm regard in which New Zealand is held.”—Times.