The Daily News WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 15, 1902. THE PRINCE OF WALES' TOUR.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXIV, Issue 12, 15 January 1902, Page 2

The Daily News WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 15, 1902. THE PRINCE OF WALES' TOUR.

Cables published a few weeks ago gave a summary of the very interesting spoeoh delivered by H.R.F.the Prince of Wales in reply to tho welcome accorded to him by the Oity of London. Papers to hand show th.it fcha speech was an excellent one, even more so than the cables indicated. After giving an interesting account of his tour, in concluding, His Royal Highness said: —" If I were asked to specify my '• particular impressions derived from our journey, I should unhesitatingly place before all others that of loyalty to the Grown and cf attachment to the Old Country; and it was touching to hfar the invariable reference to Home, even from the lips of those who never had been or were ever likely to be in those islands. (Cheers). And with this loyalty was unmistakable evidence of the consciousness of strength, of a true and living membership in the Empire, i and of power and readiness to snare tha burden »nd responsibility of that membership. (Cheers). And were It) ■ seek for the c&ui-es which have created | and fostered this spirit, I should v.n- ---[ ture to attribute them, in a very large degree, to the life and example of our beloved Sovereign. It would be diffisult to exaggerate tho signs of genuine • sorrow for har loss and of love for her memory which we found amongst all races, even in the most remote districts which we vif ited. Besides this, may we not find another. cause —the wise and just policy which, in the last half century, has been continuously maintained towards our colonies ? (Cheers). As a result of the happy relations thus created between the Mother Country and her colonics, we have seen their spontaneous rally the old flag in defence of the nation's honour in South Africa. (Cheers). I ■ had ample opportunities to form some estimates of the military strength of Australia, New Zealand, and Canadi, having reviewed upwards of 60,000 troops. Abundant and excellent ma teriat is available, requiring only that moulding into shape which can be readily effected by the hands of csp-' , able and experienced officers. I ara'i anxious to refer to an admirable moveI ment which has taken strong root bath i in Australia and New Zetland—and that is the cadet corps. On several occasions I had the gratification of seeing march past several thousand cadet", armed and (quipped, who, at the ex- ' pense of their respective 00/emments, ' are able to go through a military course, and in some cases with »n annual grant of practice ammunition. I will I not presume, in these days of army reform, to do more than call the attention of my friend, tho Secretary of State for War, to this interesting fact. (Heau, hear). To the distinguished j representatives of the commeicia! interests of the Empire whom I have the pleasure of seeing here to day, I ven- ; ture to allude to the impression which seemed generally to prevail among their brethren across the s<;as, that the Old > 1 Country must wake up if she intends to maintain her old position of prteminonce in her colonial trade against foreign competitors. (Hear, hear.) No one who had the privilege of enjoying the experiences which we have had during our tour could fail to be struck with one all-pervading and pressing demand—the want of population. Even in the oldest of our colonies there were abundant signs of this need. Boundless tracts of country yet unexplored, hidden mineral wealth calling for development, vast expanses oE virgin soil ready to yield profitable crops to the settlers. And these can ba enjoyed under conditions of healthy living, liberal laws, frea institutions, in exchange for the overcrowded cities and the almost hopeless struggle for existence which, alas! too often is the lot of many in the Old Couurry, But one condition, and one only, is made by our j colonial brethren, and ttiat is,' Send us suitable emigrants.' (Cheers.) I would go further, and appeal to my fellowcountrymen at Home to prove the strength of the attachment of the Motherland to her children by sending to them only of her bes<\ (Cheers.) By this means we imy still further strengthen, or at all events pass on unimpaired, that pride of race, that unity of sentiment and purpose, that filing jof common loyalty and obligation, which knit together and alone can; maintain the integrity of our Empire, (Loud and prolonged cheers,)"