PRINCE TO CHILDREN

New Zealand Times, Volume XLVI, Issue 10605, 2 June 1920, Page 5

PRINCE TO CHILDREN

FAREWELL MESSAGE SE HONEST, UNSELFISH, AND "PLAY THE GAME." The following message sent bv tho Prince of "Wales to the school children 'of New Zealand was read yesterday morning in all public and secondary schools in the Wellington district. The message was handed by the Prince to the Prime Minister immediately beforo his departure. Printed copies were forwarded somo days ago in sealed enrelopes to the head teachers of all fichools, with instructions that the envelope- should not be opened! until May 31st, or, if this school should he closed for that date, niimediaiei.y after reassembly.

The message* will be printed in tho -7uuo issue of the "school Journal," xad a facsimiie of the original, which was in tho Prince's handwriting, will bo published in a special-souvenir edition of 'the '•Journal'" in July. The Prince's letter is us follows: H.M.S. Renown, LYTTELTON, May 22, 1920.

"Girls and Boys of New, Zealand,— "I am very sorry indeed that, my delightful vioit to No-.v Zealand is over, and 1 want, before I leave, to send you my b«>t wishes and a few words of farewell. 1 have asked that this message may be read out to you by your masters and teachers, and also that it may. be published in my own handwriting in your •'School -Journal.' "My first wish is to thank you all for giving me such hearty welcomes everywhere. It has been a. great pleasure to me to see so many of you gathered to meet, me, and 1 am going to tell my father and mother, tho King and Queen, what a fine and loyal future generation, is growing up in this Dominion.

'"I also want to tell you what! I feel .about New Zealand, it is a splendid and beautiful country, and well worth your life-long devotion. * Remember, however, that it is a young country, iind thati.it depends upon you and upon those who follow you to carry on the amazing rate of progress that has been achieved by. your parents and grandparents. ''You have a splendid example before you in your fathers and brothers, and'also in your mothers and sisters, who marched and fought, or worked and endured, to win our well-earned victory in the great war. Remember always how much you owe to them, and "try to do as much for the Empire in your'own'day as they have done in theirs. I trust that you may never be called upon to fight in another war; but vou can serve the mightyEmpire, which has kept you safo and Well, in times of peace hx living straight, and useful-lives and always putting your duty to your King, your country," and your flag before everything else. "There are just three_ things which X want you to bear in mind: — "(1) Never consciously say or do a dishonest thing. '(2) Always remember other people's interests when pursuing Tour own. "(3) Play for the side and play the game. "One last word. Please do not think of me as someone very distant who •came to see you once-and- then: forgot you for peoplo nearer the Old Country. I love New Zealand, and belong to it every bit as much as yon do yourselves . You, New Zealand girls and boys, are my own British kith and kin, md I will never forget the wonderful •irst welcome which you gave me to my New Zealand home. '1 hope this message is not to Bay jgood-bye,- but merely 'au revoir.' /'EDWARD P." AT CHRISTCHURCH COMMENT BY VISITING PRESSMAN. Cabling to the Melbourne "Argus'" while the Prince of Wales was in Christchurch, Mr John Sandes, special .representative of the Australian Press Association, stated: — "At a meeting held on the Christchurch railway platform, just before; the arrival of tho Royal train, the City Council resolved to 'confer upon the Prince the freedom, of tho City of Christchurch. The resolutions will bo engrossed on parchment and presented to the Prince at a civic reception today. The freedom of the City of London wag conferred upon the Prince at the Uuildha.ll after his return from the Canadian trip. I asked a 'London otiicial what were tho exact privileges connected with tho presentation of tiio freedom of a- city to the Prince. He replied that the chief privilege was that if the Prince wished to own a house within- tho city limits he would be exempt from ratepaying. Presumably, therefore, if the Prince should desire to acquire a house in Christ-t-hurch he would not bo a ratepayer. "It is interestinjc to note that cities have temperaments in the same -way a 3 individuals. Temperamental differences between New Zealand cities "re distinctly observable by those- who witness tho reception of the Prince in different places. Auckland was tropically lavish and exuberant, but, Wellington burst into a flame of enthusiasm as though by spontaneous combustion. Hokitika was explosive, while the attitude of one or two smaller West Coast townships mignl fairly be described us genuinely interested. Christchurch laht night, showed contemplativeness touched with emo\ion. DR THACKER'S BOMBSHELL. ••Dr Thacker, Mayor of Christchurch, throw a bombshell at Colonel Urigg, the Prince's secretary, in the form or a long letter in which he stated hw ideas of what the Prince should do while in Christchurch. Colonel Cngg threw a return bomb with wonderUil promptitude. "I hasten to inform you," ho wrote, "that the Prince ol Wales cannot undertake any engagements whatever besides his otnwal programme." Colonel Grigg's promptitude and uncompromisingly decisive tone aro readily understood in tho light of tho Mayor's letter. The Mayor wrote, inter alia:—"On "Friday morning 1 wish the Prince to visit soldier farmery at Avonhcad, where he will sco some of the most recent idea:* ol* settling soldiers; thence he could go to the Orthopaedic Hospital, and thence to. Sydenham Park, in which it has been arranged to have alt. V, 10 mothers and children in the vicinity that will not be able to go out, to ecu him in the streets, and where he will be officiallr welcomed by scouts, ino remainder of Dr Thacker'a demands upon tho Prince would occupy nearly half a column in print. His.demands could not bo satisfied by a human Prince, composed of flesh and blood. To do all that Dr Thacker requires, it would be necessary to obtain a. man'cancso bronze figure operated by an internal combustion engine, and capable of attending functions twenty-tour hours a day* 1 * -