Viscount Galway Visits Feilding

Manawatu Times, Volume 62, Issue 25, 30 January 1937, Page 3

Viscount Galway Visits Feilding

Enthusiastic Welcome Accorded Motor Tour of the District His Excellency the Governor-General, Viscount Galway, made his first official visit to Feilding yesterday. The occasion was favoured with fine weather and following the welcome accorded his Excellency in Manchester Square, Viscount Galway, who was attended by Captain Stuart-French, made a tour of the immediate countryside, visiting the Feilding live stock sale and other points of interest, after which he expressed himself as being very much impressed with the fertility of the soil and the productivity of the country. He visited the Cheltenham Dairy Company’s butter factory at Makino where he followed with close interest the process of manufacture of butter

Before a large gathering of citizens and settlers of Feilding and district the Mayor (Mr T. Collins) read the official welcome to his Excellency from a dais erected in Manchester Square. On arrival Viscount Galway inspected the guard of honour comprising returned soldiers in charge of Major Bruce McLeod, president of the Feilding Returned Soldiers’ Association. His Excellency met each man in turn and ou reaching the dais, the Feilding Municipal Band played the National Anthem. Official Welcome. The Mayor then read the following official welcome to his Excellency:— “It is my privilege and pleasure today to extend to your Excellency on behalf of the residents of Feilding and district, the heartiest of welcomes on this occasion of your first visit to our town. And may I bo permitted Sir at this juncture, to express our deep regret that her Excellency, Lady Galway, has been unable to accompany you, and we ask that you will ou your return extend to her Excellency our sympathy in her indisposition with a wish that she will soon be restored to her usual good health. “To you, Sir, as the King’s representative we wish to say that we give place to no one in our loyalty to the Throne, and as a tribute to your soldierly qualities your bodyguard to-day is composed entirely of members of the Returned Soldiers’ Association of this district. “Where we stand at the moment, Sir, was, a matter of sixty years ago, practically all heavy bush and fern, but, due to the excellent work done by the early pioneers of the district, under the capable management of the corporation responsible for the settlement of the Manchester Block, we have now one of the most fertile areas and also ono of the greatest stock producing centres in New Zealand, together with the prosperous town of Feilding, Ashhurst, and Apiti, all of which we are justly proud. “On the industrial side we have our freezing works, butter factory, woolscour and various other works, employing hundreds of hands and in our stock sale yards where weekly sales are held, we claim to have the largest turnover of stock in the North Island. Our various parks make ample provision for the recreational requirements of our inhabitants and our racecourse for the size of the town will compare favourably with any in New Zealand. In addition to the several primary schools, the Feilding District Agricultural High School with its well and completely stocked farm is an institution which has built up a Dominionwide reputation, and at this stage I would like to mention our regret, your Excellency, that circumstances prevent the assemblage of the school children in their numbers to join in our welcome to-day. In conclusion, brief as this speech is your Excellency, it is none the less sincere; we are delighted to have you with us and trust that you will pay us another visit when her Excellency, Lady Galway, will be able to accompany you. We hope that your stay in New Zealand will be enjoyable and that you will will be enjoyable ana that you will take away to-day none but the most pleasant of recollections of your visil to Feilding.” ((Applause). Counties’ Welcome. The welcome on behalf of the Manawatu, Kairanga, Kiwitea, Pohangina, and Oroua Counties, was extended by councillor A. Campbell, chairman of the Oroua County Council, who said: — “On behalf of the counties of Manawatu, Kairanga, Kiwitea, Pohangina, and Oroua. It affords me pleasure to be associated with His Worship the Mayor in extending a hearty welcome on behalf of the residents on the occasion of your first visit to Feilding and district. And your Excelledcy as the Representative of Their Majesties the King and Queen I can assure you that in no part of the British Empire are their more loyal subjects than are to be found in this surrounding district. Later in the day from a vantage point you will have an opportunity of viewing the district once covered by dense forest which will convey to you some idea of work accomplished by our sterling pioneer settlers. The counties I have the honour of representing to-day

control approximately 1200 miles of metalled road and innumerable bridges across the various rivers and streams under their control. We also wish you a pleasant and happy time during your residence in this fair Dominion. With the Mayor we sincerely regret the indispostion of her Excellency, Lady Galway, and trust that she will soon be restored to perfect health. Member Speaks. ! The Hon. J. G. Cobbe, Member for Oroua, said that he joined wi,th the other speakers in their expressions of regret regarding the unfortunate accident which had prevented Lady Galway front being present and wished to join with them in the expressions of hope and good wishes for her speedy restoration to good health. Mr Cobbe went on to recall the occasion of Viscount Galway’s first speech at the opening of Parliament in 1935, when his Excellency had expressed a sincere hope that ho and Lady Galway would be able to do something to promote the welfare aqd progress of the people of the Dominion and Mr Cobbe felt that in many ways his Excellency had demonstrated his sincere regard for the prosperity of the people. Lord Galway had, when the speaker was Minister for Defence, taken the opportunity of discussing with him various matters concerning the security of the country and the need to co-ordinate the various services, and in this connection Mr Cobbe had been able to profit by the friendly advice offered. In many way's his Excellency had demonstrated his sincere regard for tho future of the Dominion and the speaker could assure the gathering that very valuable advice had been received from Lord Galway. Continuing, Mr Cobbe reminded the audience that his Excellency was a distinguished soldier who had received coveted decorations for his service to the Empire. He w r as personally' very pleased indeed to be associated in The welcome to Viscount Galway and, concluding, said that the district of which Feilding was the centre was most loyal. (Applause). His Excellency’s Reply.

His Excellency replied as follows:— “The address which you have presented to me to-day, on behalf of the residents of Feilding and the surrounding districts, is one conspicuous for its tone of loyalty and warm attachment to the Throne, and, as his Majesty’s representative in this Dominion, I wish to acknowledge, with deep appreciation, the loy'al sentiments to which you have given expression.

“I am also grateful to you, Mr Mayor, to Mr Campbell, the chairman of the Oroua County Council, and to the Hon. Mr Cobbe, your representative in Parliament, for the cordial welcomo to your town. I can assure you I warmly appreciate this testimony of friendly feeling. “It has been a pleasure to me to inspect the guard of honour of returned soldiers on parade here to-day —a guard representing those gallant men of you! - town and district who responded so nobly to the Nation’s call in time of need.

‘ *1 am most interested, Mr Mayor, to the reference which you have made to the progress during the past sixty years of Feilding, the adjoining districts, to the fertile lands which comprise that district, and to the industries which have been established in connection with the primary output of those lands. May that progress long continue. It is my intention to pay a visit to seme of your industrial establishments to-day and later to drive through a portion of your district in order to see for myseif something of a part of New Zealand about which I have already heard a great deal. “It is a. matter for congratulation that such a progressive town and district should possess an up-to-date agricultural high school in which the younger generation are trained in the rudiments of practical farming. “la conclusion, Mr Mayor, I should like to express my personal and grateful acknowledgements of the kind reference which you have made to my wife’s recent accident. She is now making very satisfactory progress. On some future date it is my intention to accept the very kind invitation which you now convey to me to pay another visit to Feilding and I sincerely hope that on that occasion it will be possible for Lady Galway to accompany me.” (Applause). Concluding his reply, his Excellency remarked that he was disappointed that circumstances had arisen to prevent him meeting the children, but he hoped that on some future occasion he would be granted that privilege. However, he* knew that it was customary, as marking the occasion of the visit of the Governor to a district to accord the children a special holiday and he was glad to an-

nounce that the Mayor had acceded to fiis request that tho children be granted an extra day’s holiday. This would be given before the schools resumed. (Applause). Visit to Saleyards. After the official welcome, his Excellency, in company with tho Mayor and town clerk (Mr C. H. Tate), visited the saleyards, where he was met by Mr W. H. Hall, president of the Auctioneers’ Association, who escorted the visitors round the yards, explaining the process of selling and tho selling organisation generally. Official Luncheon. At one o'clock his Excellency was the guest of the Feilding Borough Council at a luncheon held at the Feilding hotel, when the attendance included past mayors of Feilding and representative citizens as well as representatives of neighbouring local bodies. The Mayor apologised for the absence of past mayors, Messrs C. E. Taylor and J. S. Tingey, and also for Messrs W. E. 3arber and S. Strachan, chairmen reflectively of the Manawatu and Pohangina County Councils. After the Loyal toast had been honoured, Mr E. Fair propose the toast of his Excellency, saying that Feilding was honoured by the visit of the King’s representative. Viscount Galway was in New Zealand representing the greatest Empire history nad ever known and it was interesting to refer to the fact that empires to-day were controlled in an entirely different way to those of the past, when it liad been necessary to send out troops to contact and security. To-day it was very different and that difference was seen in the fact that the loyalty of the people was the strongest link with the Throne and that was ever conveyed through the King’s representative. His Excellency had marked his interest in many of the activities of the country and had shown that he was a keen sport and one well contented with the industry of the King’s subjects in tho Dominion. Concluding, Mr Fair wished his Excellency good health and .long life. (Applause). Replying, his Excellency expressed appreciation of the manner in which the toast of himself had been received. He had heard a great deal about Feilding before coming to New Zealand, from Lord Denbigh, who had a full knowledge of Feilding and its settlement. The speaker had been asked by Lord Denbigh to supply a special report on the progress and development of Feilding, and his Excellency would have pleasure in preparing that report. He was very much impressed with Feilding and the district which surrounded it. It was indeed a wonderful country. He did not wish to make comparisons but he was satisfied that the soil and the country about Feilding was equal to anything he had seen. He had visited the saleyards and had been most impressed with the efficient manner in which the selling organisation was conducted. His great regret was that he had been unable to visit Feilding earlier and he was most happy that the opportunity had arrived and that he had availed himself of it. Ho intended to see as much of the countryside as time permitted. for he was charmed with the prospect. (Applause). Visit to Butter Factory. Ilis Excellency, after luncheon, visited the Cheltenham Dairy Company factory at Makino, where he was met by Mr C. G. C. Dermer, chairman of directors, Mr P. B. Desmond, secretary, and Mr J. W. McDonald, manager. A churning had been kept back to enable his Excellency to follow the whole process of butter-making and immediately on arrival the machinery was set in motion for the benefit of the visitorHis Excellency remained at the factory for some time and manifested a keen interest in the whole process. Motor Tour ol the country. Following tho tour of the country, his Excellency was taken for a motor tour of the countryside, visiting Makino,, Cinder Hill, Cheltenham, and returning to Feilding via Kimbolton roadHe was then taken over Mt. Bigg’s to Mt. Stewart, where he inspected tho proposed site of the early settlers' memorial. After this his Excellency was tho guest of the Mayor, and Mayoress at afternoon tea at the Mayor’s home in Denbigh street. The vice regal visit to Feilding concluded when his Excellency made a brief call at the Feilding Club as the guest of the president, Air Edmund Goodbehcre, and members.