LORD CRAIGAVON ARRIVES

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 823, 18 November 1929, Page 1

LORD CRAIGAVON ARRIVES

Veteran Ulster Leader’s Visit WELCOMED BY AUCKLANDERS “My Heart is in the Country” MY is to leant, tor 1 have long reached the conclusion that the pioneers of New Zealand, having overcome great difSenlth .. must he in a position to teach us a great deal, particularly in regard to agriculture, which, after all, is the mainstay of Northern Ireland.” Thus Lord Craigavon, Crime Minister of Ulster, explains the reason for an extended visit to New Zealand. Accompanied by Lady Craigavon. lie arrived at Auckland this morning on the Aorangi.

A commanding figure, tall, broadly built, and with the personality o£ a born leader. Lord Craigavon, the tourj 9 unmistakably the politician who has carved an Empire reputation for unswerving determination, pugnacity, and strength of conviction. Withal he is a visitor of rare charm and understanding. possessing a genial, homely personality, enriched by a ready sense of typically Irish humour. He was welcomed this morning on the Aorangi by the Hon. J. R. Donald, representing the government, Mr. D. Ardelt. of the Internal Affairs Department. Mr. .Tohn Alexander, representing Ulster-born Aucklanders, and Mr. A. .7. Entrk-an. deputy-Mayor. Lady Craigavon was presented with a magnificent bouquet of roses. Though he lias much to study in New Zealand. Lord Cratgavou's trip is being taken primarily for health reasons. “I wish to enjoy a rest after tJ consecutive years in office —eight as Prime Minister of Ulster, and five at the Admiralty, the Ministry of Pensions, and in various under-secre-taryships at Westminster." he told The Sun. “For that tvason I am anxious to avoid public meetings and speechmaking from which it may be said 1 have fled. Hut I am equally anxious to meet all soctions of the community, especially these of Ulster stock. “I am new-r tired of talking about Ulster or to individuals." DOMINION AND ULSTER Speaking of his visit to Australia he said he had been interested in the affairs of the Commonwealth, and its many problems, but could not compare Australia with Ulster, as conditions weie so different. New Zealand approximated Ulster more closely than any other Dominion. "Ulster has settled down more to agriculture than ever before,’’ he continued. “Differences between the North and the South are gradually disappearing, for It has been realised by thinking men that the best solution of an age-long question was reached when a form of government entirely satisfactory to the South was accorded them under the constitution of the Free State. Ulster, remaining as she does an intregal part of Great Britain, retains all ancient rights and privileges of citizenship, while the Government accords to her the power io manage her own local affairs in the best interests of the people concerned. “Ulster is even more closely linked with the Mother Country than can be defined by the constitution of any other self-governing state within the Empire. The existing form of government suits Ulster’s 1.235.000 people. FINE OLD LINEN "t am very anxious to promote interest in Irish linen. The industry is recovering gradually, and the manufacture of artificial materials is not having quite as bad an effect as on other similar industries. Pure bleached Irish linen is unbeatable and this tine old manufacture will come to the top again. "Any unemployment we may have is caused hy a slackening off of the Imen industry caused by tlio competition from Northern Europe. "We are nut exercised by questions d migration There :11c a certain number of Ulster people still anxious to come to New Zealand, but it has to be realised that, sinco the census in 1911. we have had no material population increase. Therefore we have bo surplus population to speak of. “In visiting New Zealand I wish Particularly to see the organisation that can capture some u'J per cent, of the trade iu cheese to England which. itself, is a cheese-manufactur-'hg country lying alongside the cheeseproducing countries of the Continent. We do not send cheese to England but are doing a big trade in other Produce and are extending our trade ia what is known as *bnby beef.’ ’* Referring finally to his mission in Vew Zealand Lord Craigavon said:

' “My heart is in the country all the time. Therefore I wish to examine meticulously the farms and orchards and dairies of this Dominion.” Lord and Lady Craigavon will leave New Zealand ou February 1, returning in time for the opening of the Par-‘ liament in Ulster on the second Tuesday in March. POLITICAL CAREER Born iu Belfast 58 years ago Lord Craigavon entered public life by contesting the North Fermanagh seat iu 1902. From then onward he took a j j prominent part in Ulster politics, and his home at Craigavon was a great j centre of political activity throughout i the Ulster campaign against the Home ■ Rule Act of 1914. He was Unionist ; member for Fast Down from 1906 to I 1913, for Mid-Down from 191 S to 1921, ; iand since then he has sat as one of the members for County Down in the House of Commons of Northern Ireland. 1 In accepting the Prime Ministership of Northern Ireland he abandoned a mo3t promising career in British politics, for he had held the offices of Treasurer to the Household and Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry j of Pensions, and in 1921 he resigned j i his post of Parliamentary Secretary to j I the Admiralty, to which he had been j I appointed in 1920. “IN THE RIGHT PLACE” IMPRESSION OF DOMINION CIVIC RECEPTION TO LORD CRAIGAVON The honours of the City were tendered Viscount and Viscountess Craigavon at noon today, when the City Council Chamber of the Town Hall was packed. Lord Craigavon said in his reply that both his wife and he him- ! self felt they had come to the right place for their rest. The Mayor, Mr. G. Baiidcn, in extending the hand of friendohip on be-j half of the City, mentioned briefly ! the statesmanship and service to the! Empire which had been given by the ; guest, who came from part of Ire-j land which always had been distin- j guished for its loyalty to tho Crown. Lord Craigavon might well rest assured that the same spirit of loyalty ! to the Empire would be found among i New Zealanders as that which was J such a characteristic of his own J people. (Applause.) Being a yachtsman, the visitor ! would be welcomed by New Zealanders. who would, the Mayor felt sure, display a sportsmanship and goodfellowship which would make the viscount completely at home. It was appropriate that he should land in the Northern part of New Zealand, for a characteristic of this Dominion had been the settlement, of the Scots in the South, the English in the middle, and the Irish in the North. The Hon. J. B. Donald, PostmasterGeneral. added a word of welcome on behalf of the Government, at the same time expressing the hope that Lori! • Craigavon and his wife would find ; time to revisit Auckland before departing from New Zealand. Wherever ! they went iu the Dominion, however, ! they could anticipate with perfect ' confidence the hospitality of tho j people. i THRILLED AT NEW ZEALAND Viscount Craigavon. In acknowledg ins a rousing reception and the cheers ; ot the crowd, expressed regret that the shadow of illness overshadowed . tho Dominion in the laying aside —temporarily. ho hoped—of the the Prime j j Minister, Sir Joseph Ward. He per- j : sonally was acquainted with several Prime Ministers of New Zealand, and. j in fact, it was largely through the in- t ■ fluenee of his late dear friend. Mr. | Massey, that he was today beginning ' ! his holiday in New Zealand after sev | eral strenuous years of work on his | j own laud. The speaker confessed that his w ife and he himself had experienced a “thrill” when they sighted Three Kings and were told that this was the first glimpse of New Zealand. This visit w— - the fulfilment of a dream which : he had conceived when a small boy. | His trip was purely a private one: I they had come here to enjoy them- j selves, and the assurances of the i ■ Mayor that the spirit of loyalty to the [ Crown and the Empire was strong in this Dominion convinced him that they had come to the right place. He had met several High Commissioners from New Zealand, and con- : T sidered that this country was t'ortun- j ate to be represented at Home just ; 1 now- by Sir James Parr.. _ Throughout his stay in New- Zealand he would always find pleasure in extending the hand of friendship to its people, of whom he had heard so . much. , i Further cheers were given tor the quests as they left the chamber.