HISTORICAL LINKS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 13 May 1939, Page 7

HISTORICAL LINKS

AUSTRALIA & AMERICA SPEECH AT WORLD’S FAIR. OPENING OF COMMONWEALTH PAVILION. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. (Received This Day, 10.5 a.m.) NEW YORK, May 12. Mr MacGregor, speaking at the official opening of the Australian pavilion at the World's Fair said: “Both Britain and America contributed to the creation of Australian ideals and traditions. The American influence was probably less well known. The first colonial settlements in Australia were initiated immediately after the American War of Independence. The revolt of the American colonies encouraged an early grant of autonomy to the young Australian colonies. When the Australian States formed a federation, they modelled the constitution of the Australian Commonwealth largely upon the American constitution and probably one of the closest parallels to American’Democracy in all the world is that of Australia. At the same time, Australia is one of the loyal Dominions of his Majesty the King and delights in her partnership with the_ United Kingdom and other Dominions in the British Commonwealth of Nations and in the friendship of the people of the Commonwealth with the people of the United States. Accordingly it has given the Australian Government special pleasure cordially to accept the invitation to participate in this great American World Fair and to invite his Majesty’s Ambassador to open the Australian pavilion.”