THE PRINCE OF WALES’ VISIT.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume XI, Issue 3475, 1 May 1920, Page 5

THE PRINCE OF WALES’ VISIT.

ISLAND TOUR NOT ABANDONED.

W'ELLINGTO'N,[ April 29.

The statement that the inland tour $_ of the Prince in the North Island has ' been definitely abandoned is not quite correct. It is understood that the

Prince himself is _most—; anxious to 4" fall in‘ with any ai7rangenlents~ that ‘ can be made, and that he is prepared A to shorten the time allowed to him for restand country sport in order to keep faith with the people of the country. It is .quite certain his visits to some towns on the Ma.in Trunk »line will have to be cut out altogether, even if -the trains are resumed at once. It may even be necessary to cut out visits to some of the Taranaki towns. Much depends on the progress of the: strike negotiations. In any case it] rs probable that the=Prince will visitj all seaport towns in the Renown if there are no trains in which he can ). travel. This must mean a consider-‘ able revision of the programme mapped out for «him. . ' i ~ 1

H.R.H. ..CONCE£NED ABOUT [THE CHILDREN. _ . - ROTORUA, April 29. The._Royal party is timed to leave for Auckland late to-night‘, and after that vszhat will happen is not known here. .It-is.undel-stood the matter will be dealt with in Wellington tonight. It is oflic-ia.lly_stated that the

S . Prince, while refraining from any ex- }, pression of opinion on the question of the strike, is hopeful that a satisfactoryarrangement of the difliculties will be reached, as he is extremely anxious that no part of the country tour should ‘be abandoned." His interest, especially in the children, no doubt would cause him to regret exexceedingly any step that would rob them "of the celebrations to which they have looked forward‘ so long‘ with joyous anticipation. The return to Auckland is made in order that the more central situation may enable negotia--tions between the parties to proceed with greater expedition. His Royal Highness has indicated that'he would willingly give up the three ‘days pro- . posed for deer-stalking if they could be utilised in covering the Taranaki and Hawke’s Bay portion of -the original itinerary. He is especially anxious that the question of his convenience should not be used as a lever to influence the men one way or the other, but he does feel that the children and the country people generally in the area affected by the proposed cut would bless a settlement that enabled them to realise the hopes they have lately been building of participating in scenes that will live in their memories. .

WANGANUI VISIT POSTPONED. On‘ Thursday evening the Mayor received the following-. telegram, dated ‘Rotorua, Thursday, 4.50 p.ln., from the Minister of Internal Affairs:— Owinglto the action of the railway employees in striking it is regretted that the proposed visit of His Royal Highness to your town ;to-mod-row has had to be cancelled. H.R.I-I. is most anxious however to carry out the tour through the Dominion originally arranged for him._ If this be at all possible, and in the event of the strike being declared off tomorrow or the following day, the Prince will visit those places included in the orflgi a programme. I will advise you byifgent telegram from '-‘Auckland fto-In rrow whether the position ‘has improved in any way and whether H.R.H. will be able to~visit ‘your towxl and when. ‘ ‘ _v W.’ FRASER.