ROYAL VISIT.

Taranaki Daily News, 1 May 1920, Page 5

ROYAL VISIT.

TOUR STILL HELD UP. PRINCE ON THE RENOWN. TARANAKI VISIT UNCERTAIN. The Prince of Wales is now on board the Renown at Auckland, and his future movements are uncertain, owing to the continuance of the railway strike. If the strike had been settled yesterday it was proposed that the Prince should visit Taranaki to-day, but last night this hope was dispelled by the following telegram which the Mayor (Mr. Jas. Clarke) received from Sir William Fraser: — "Owing to the strike being unsettled, I am unable to advise you as to when the Prince is likely to leave Auckland for Mew Plymouth." The Mayor desires that, as the notice of the time at which the Prince of Wales may be expected in New Plymouth will in all piobaibility be short, business people will, immediately it is announced, decorate their premises, and lend what assistance they can to help complete the general street decorations. Anyone able to help should communicate at onge with Mr. R. Day, borough inspector. THE PRINCE'S PLAiSL. DEPEND ON TO-DAY'S EVENTS. LEAVES BY RENOWN IP NOT SETTLED. Auckland, Last Night. By the irony of fate, the Prince of Wales, after having his visit to Rotorua spoiled by rain on what should have been a big day, and clouded yesterday by uncertainties arising out of the railway strike position, found himself practically at a loose end in Auckland to-day, with clear skies overhead. The Prince went out to the golf links at One Tree Hill and enjoyed a round with officers of the Renown. In the. evening he attended a private dance on board the ship. Sir William Fraser, Minister in chares of (he tour, with Mr. McVilley, General Manager of Railways, were in close touch with Wellington during the dayWhen news came in the morning that the strike was settled, an announcement \vn« made that the Royal train would start south at and that the programme for Taranaki and Hawke's Bay would be completed as originally arranged, except that it would he a day Into all along the line. Then as it was reported the settlement only applied 1o a portion of the striker*, the hour of departure was postponed till 5 o'clock, and finally it was slated 110 start would be made till morning. The Governor-General had a conference with Sir William Fraser, and finally the following official statement was issued: "The Government desire to make publ'e th« f<>ct that- the Prince ■.' os wishes to carry out the whole of his tour in Hie North Island, if this can he done witho'-.t prejudice to the remainder of his programme. If the strike is settled by to-morrow, he will leave Auckland by train on Sunday afternoon. and curry out- the whole of the North Island programme, making up two days which will have been lost on arrival in Wellington, by giving lip his deer stalking expedition at the end of next week. If Hie strike is not settled to-morrow, he will proceed to Wellington in H.M.S. Renown, so as to carry out the programme prepared for him in that city on the dates originally intended." MR. S. G. SMITH INDIGNANT. EXPECTS VISIT NEXT WEEK. Speaking at the dinner to the South Afrienn veterans at New Plymouth last night, Mr. S. G. Smith, M.P. for Taranaki, said that he had a serious -complaint | against the Government in reference to the treatment meted out to Tarani.ki—one of the most historical districts in New Zealand—in connection With the visit of the Prince of Wales. He believed that the village constable and the night watchman at the public buildings had been advised that the Prince would arrive in New Plymouth the following day (to-day), and ialso that some official had received instructions to decorate a public building. A few minutes before he left home he had received no intimation. He had al-so rung up the Mayor, who had received no intimation either. He believed it to be correct that the Police Department had been advised, but when the Government of the country got into such a condition as to offer a studied act of discourtesy to the men who had been elected to responsible positions by the people of the district it was time they had a change. He had told them that Sir William Fraser would be in the box seat for some time after the election, and so he had, and he had now got into the Royal train, and it appeared to be impossible now to get any definite information from him. The Mayor had been informed that he would be advised at 3 p.m. of the definite time of arrival of the Prince, but bo far no one knew except the village policeman and the night watchman at the public buildings. Past Governments. had been neglectful of the district. Taranaki, as a great district, was entitled to have a distinguished visitor in its- midst for more than one hour and 2"> minutes, which included four stops. It was not his fault. He had made a vignruos protest when the arrangements were first made, and also when the curtailed programme was announced, and he had just received a reply from the Premier to his telegram, stating that he had handed it over to the Minister in charge of the Royal train. That was Sir William Fraser, whose head, lie was afraid, had been turned. He believed we would have the Prince of Wales here on Monday or Tuesday. DEPARTURE FROM ROTORUA. QUIET AUCKLAND ARRIVAL. Rotorua, April SO. The Prince's train left for Auckland at 1 o'clock this morning, preceded by a train at 10.10 p.m. and at midnight. The Governor left by the latter, and was followed by the emergency train at 1.45 a.m. Auckland, April 30. The Prince's train, which left, Rotorua at 12.55 a.m., reached Auckland at S o'clock without incident. His further movements are uncertain at present, and the Prince remains on board the warship.