THE PRINCE.

Taranaki Daily News, 28 January 1920, Page 5

THE PRINCE.

HONORED BY AUSTRALIANS. LUNCHEON IN LONDON. By Telegraph.—Press Assn.-Cojytlslit. Received Jan, 27, 5.5 p.m. London, Jan. 26. The chief features of the Australia Day celebrations in London centred round the Prince of Wales' attendance at a luncheon, at the Connaught Rooms. Five hundred were present. The Prince of Wales was received before the luncheon by leading members of the AngloAustralian community. It is noteworthy that the Prince has not recovered the use of his right hand since the Canadian tour, and he shook hands with the guests with his left hand. The tables were decorated with wattle blooms.

The Prince received a great ovation. He charmed the gathering by his frank manner, and he elicited cheers when he made a reference to his comrades in arms, "The Diggers." .Mr. Andrew Fisher (High Commissioner for Australia), in a singularly happy speech proposing the Prince's health, Baid: We recognise the high compliment the King paid to the Dominions in sending the Prince to Australia and New Zealand. The visit will have a farreaching effect upon the Empire. There was one thing he would like the Prince to do, namely, to see as much of the children of the country as he could. They, as his future subjects, would remember the visit and treasure it much. The future belongs to the children, not to us. Sir Thomas Mackenzie (High Commissioner for New Zealand) assured the Prince that New Zealand, in common with Australia, would receive him with a welcome cot inferior to Canada. Distance had not drminisshed New Zealand's loyalty. The Prince would realise on his visit the potentialities of the Dominions.

The Prince this evening received Viscount Grey. The Prince has instructed Admiral Sir Lionel Halgey to hoist his flag on H.M.S. Renown on February Ist as Chief-of-Staff for the tour.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.

[Admiral Sir Lionel Halsey was in command of H.M.S. New Zealand during her visit to the Dominion before the war. He was Chief-of-Staff to the Prince of Wales during the Canadian tour.]

SPEECH BY THE PRINCE. INTEREST IN THE TOUR. 'Received Jan. 27, 8.15 p.m. London, Jan. 26. At the luncheon to the Prince of Wales at the Australia Club, Mr. Fisher added that the visit would have a greater effect on the more distant parts of the British Empire than anything the Prince had yet done. It would be an emblem that the Empire was impregnable, and that its strength would be used in the ways of justice. Sir Thomas Mackenzie, after assuring the Prince of the warmth of New Zealand's welcome, suggested that the time had come to initiate some great movement to link up various associations to provide for a meeting place for the overseas representatives in London. The Prince, in responding, said that he was looking forward with interest to the voyage, and the wonderful things he was going to see in Australia and New Zelaand. Apart from these things he wanted to seo the people of these two Dominions. He referred to his association witli the "Aussie" and New Zealand soldiers in war-time. He particularly looked forward to seeing as many returned soldiers as possible. He could never forget that they always described him as one of themselves "a digger"—a compliment Very much appreciated. He felt very proud that he knew their soldiers, and, through them, he felt he knew Australians and New Zealanders. He cordially supported Sir Thomas Mackenzie's suggestion for a club in London for the Dominions' representatives. He concluded by alluding to the inference of Mr. Fisher and Sir Thomas Mackezie that his visit would do good, adding: "1 can assure you you are going to do me an enormous amount of good.'' Colonel L. C. Am,ery (Under-Secretary for the Colonies), addressing the Prince, said: "I believe you will come away from the great Dominions as you did from Canada, infected with the same national enthusiasm which they feel towards you. You came from Canada a Canadian, and I believe you will come back an Australian and a New Zealander as well."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.