PRINCE AND DOMINIONS.

Taranaki Daily News, 19 February 1921, Page 9

PRINCE AND DOMINIONS.

A CHARACTERISTIC SPEECH, MEMORIES OF HIS TOUR. "COUNTING OUT” INCIDENT. London, Jan. 26. Sir James Allen, High Commissioner for New Zealand, presided at the Australian and New Zealand luncheon on Australia Day. He expressed pleasure at having the Prince of Wales as their guest, which pleasure was greater because the Prince had been recently in Australia and Zealand. The Prince of Wales was received with prolonged cheers. He said: “'Exactly a year ago I had the pleasure of being entertained at this club prior to my departure. Then I was hardly competent to speak of the two great Dominions which you love so well. Now I have learned to love them, too. (Cheers.) Practically all I knew then was learnt from the Diggers. J saw their splendid free spirit, and longed to meet them in their own homes, among their own people. I have since had this opportunity, and it has exceeded all my expectations. I talked to thousands of Diggers, and they hailed me as a Digger, and gave me a wonderful time. I am glad to see them being gradually absorbed by a wise system of land settlement and repatriation.

“I also met every section of the people, and cannot forget the wonderful and whole-hearted greeting of the people everywhere? I was especially impressed by the school children who form a happy augury for the future of these 'Dominions. I enjoyed the great demur strations organised on your famous cricket grounds, where the M.C.C. team has been engaged in a desparate struggle with your people. The Old Country has lost the ashes, but I shall get into hot water here if I do not say that that is only temporary. (Cheers and laughter.) “I missed very little, of Australia—only North Queensland and North-west Australia. I saw the wonderful bush and crossed the great plains of the Trans-continental line % I went down the mines at Bendigo with my friend, Mr. ‘Billy’ Hughes, whom I hope to welcome soon in London. In New Zealand, at Rotorua, although the geyser did not behave, I was greatly impressed by the hakas. I had glimpses of the splendid mountains on the west coast of New Zealand, and am sorry I could not go to Milford Sound and the other sounds, but I was far too rushed. I should have spent three times as long there, but I gained a certain knowledge —I hope not too superficial—of the two great coun- ; tries amazing resources are being L magnificently developed by their won- ! derful people. ' “How many of you here have ever been counted out? It wasfquite an ex-

perience for me. At a wayside station in New South Wales one morning I was counted out because I would not come out and see the crowd. I say in defence that J was so soundly asleep that I did not wake, but when I returned to that town I had the satisfaction, of being counted in with equal vigor. I visited nearly all the racecourses, and it was through the race meetings that I was impressed by the potential wealth of your two countries. There is hardly a racecourse I do not know. (Laughter.) I was very unlucky, but on the few occasions when I backed the right horse I was paid in gold, which made me think a bit. I also rode over most of the courses, through the kindness of the trainers, who lent me horses. My one regret was that I saw so little of the back blocks, which is the life of Australia. I rode 200 miles in a little more than a week, and I know that two or three months of a jackeroo’s life would be good for me.” “At Auckland I participated Jn your other great anniversary—Anzac 'Qay. I know what these great days to Australia and New Zealand. The .first celebrates the arrival of the original settlers. The second means remembrance of the common sacrifice to uphold ideals which we believe to be true and just, and the culminating point in the work of those early pioneers whose memory we are celebrating to-day, consolidating for all time the invisible ties binding you and your two great sister British nations 6f the south to the other nations of the British race.”