ROYAL TOUR

Wairarapa Times-Age, 15 May 1939, Page 5

ROYAL TOUR

ARRIVAL IN CANADzk DELAYED RESULT OF MEETING FOG AND ICE. AMENDMENT OF RECEPTION PLANS. By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright. LONDON. May 13. * Because of fog anti ice the arrival of the Empress of Australia at Quebec has been delayed .necessitating a change in the plans for the reception of their .Majesties. The liner is not expected to arrive liefore late on .Monday night at the earliest, instead of in the morning, and it is- believed that their .Majesties will prefer to remain on the ship and disembark on Tuesday morning. Mr Mackenzie King told the House of Commons in Ottawa that the functions at Quebec City would be carried out on Tuesday instead of Monday and the Montreal visit would be advanced to Wednesday, after which, in order to adjust the schedule, practically one full day would, be cut from the visit to Ottawa. The original programme in Ottawa on Wednesday, .excepting the State dinner, will be dropped, but the functions on the other days will be continued. The Empress of Australia is still slowed up and she was 2GO miles south-east of Cape Race at midnight, ship’s time. The Queen, who is enjoying the trip, saw one of the largest icebergs during the tour right ahead, necessitating reversing the engines. She remarked that it was almost like being arctic explorers. Three lookouts are posted, one being on the forecastle and another in the crow’s nest. Six officers are assisting the watch on the bridge. PRUDENT NAVIGATION. The prudence of her commander in keeping the Empress of Australia at a standstill for many hours was shown when the fog lifted momentarily last evening to reveal the liner encircled by icebergs and iceflows,, says a British official wireless message. The King was able to take snapshots of great icebergs close to the ship over which waves were dashing. Messages reaching London dwell on the warmth of the welcome which awaits their Majesties. The route along which their Majesties will drive from Wolfe’s Cove Dock to the Legislative Buildings has been 1 elaborately decorated. Magnificent decorations adorn public and private buildings in Quebec, Monrteal, Toronto and Ottawa.

One of the most significant ceremonies of the tour will be on Maj’ 19, when the King will give the Royal assent in person to a number of Bills in the Parliament in Ottawa. Among the measures which will become law on this occasion of historic interest in the constitutional story of the great British Commonwealth of Nations is a Bill giving effect to the provisions of the trade agreement between Canada and the United States.

The battle cruiser Repulse, which accompanied the Empress of Australia on the first part of the voyage, has arrived at Southampton. Several of her ratings were injured when trying to secure a grating adrift in a heavy sea. FURTHER DELAY ARRIVAL NOT EXPECTED BEFORE WEDNESDAY. ACCORDING TO REPORTS REACHING QUEBEC. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright (Received This Oay, 9.30 a.m.) QUEBEC, May 14. Reports reaching Quebec state that the Empress of Australia is still held by fog and ice, approximately 250 miles east of Cape Race, and would, not arrive before Wednesday. It is understood that the ship is in the same position as yesterday. It is unknown what changes will he made in the royal itinerary to circumvent the delay.

An official announcement states that the Empress of Australia at 9 a.m. was still 1080 miles east of Quebec. CLEAR WEATHER BUT PROGRESS STILL SLOW. SHIP SURROUNDED BY FLOES. (Received This Day, 10.35 a.m.) LONDON, May 14. The Empress of Australia, after progressing five miles during the night through fog, reached clear weather, but was entirely surrounded by ice floes, which were bumping her sides while her escorts followed along the sea lane of the Empress of Australia’s wake. The Queen said: “I am sorry for the people who have travelled miles to see us." Captain Meikle changed the course of his vessel to avoid thicker ice and the liner encountered more fog. through which it proceeded fitfully. The purser conducted divine service because Captain Meikle could not leave the bridge. Their Majesties joined in the hymns, which the Queen chose. Special prayers were offered for the Royal Family, Lord Tweedsmuir and President Roosevelt, Empire legislators and sailors.

SOCIAL JEALOUSIES RIVAL CLAIMS ON ROYAL ATTENTION. QUEBEC & OTTAWA AT ODDS. QUEBEC. May 14. Local citizens who had drilled for days for their part in the reception of their Majesties were greatly disappointed when it was announced that the ship would be a day late, but the disappointment was greatly mitigated which it was learned that the Ottawa programme was the only one likely to be cut. In fact there was some gratification that Ottawa was likely to claim fewer shares in the proceedings. It is no longer a secret that in many quarters it is iclt that the capital and officialdom are claiming an over-large share of the Royal attention. Many >n social circles felt that they had been edged out of the banquet-room or drawing-room in order to make room for politicians or their wives. This found open expression in a leader in

the "Chronicle Telegraph." Quebec’s only English language newspaper, which deplored the influx of visitors from Ottawa to Quebec, contending that since one of the purposes of the Royal visit was to permit their Majesties to come into contact with as many of their subjects as possible, it would be better if Ottawa personages “reserve the gratification of their social ambitions" till their Majesties ■ reach Ottawa.