BACK TO THE PRAIRIES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 5 June 1939, Page 5

BACK TO THE PRAIRIES

THEIR MAJESTIES TRAVERSE ALBERTA LOYAL WELCOMING CROWDS STREETS OF EDMONTON BLOCKED. DOLLAR A SEAT CHARGED BY GOVERNMENT. By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright. EDMONTON (Alberta), June . Welcoming llieir Majesties today, there was a good-na-tured casual air about Edmonton, basking in the spring sunshine. This was reflected at the presentation of addresses of welcome when public officials and guests mingled on the steps of the legislative building.

Thus the King, in his Air Force uniform found himself close by a vendor of popcorn in a “ten-gallon” hat. When their Majesties entered the chamber, the latter strolled down the red carpet, offering his wares. However, a ooy who clambered up the face of the building was hastily removed from tne balcony just before their Majesties appeared on it to acknowledge the cheers.

Their Majesties had come down into the prairies today from their Rocky Mountain log nut with obvious regret. They rose early and walked two miles before entraining. When the train reached the exit of Jasper National Park they ordered it to be stopped and walked for 35 minutes along the right-of-way, the train following. When their Majesties re-embarked the engineer hit the highest speed of the tour and arrived five minutes befor the scheduled time at Edmonton, the capital of the world’s only Social Credit Government.

The Government provided a novel welcome for their Majesties by lining both sides of a straight stretch of road two and a half miles long with temporary stands of six tiers, seating 68,000 people. These were packed, and their Majesties drove down the narrow avenue to a deafening roar of applause. The Government charged a dollar a seat, and, as the stands completely blocked the pavements, those who wished to view the Royal progress were left with no choice. The fact was noted by critics of Mr Aberhart. The keenness of the King’s observation was instanced as he was leaving the Legislature, when he noticed a woman in the crowd wearing a Victoria Cross. He stopped and asked her why she had not been presented to him’earlier with the V.C. holders. She told him that the decoration was awarded to her husband, who died at Vimy and that when she had learned with disappointment that she could not be presented at Calgary she had come to Bdmonton, hoping to see their Majesties there. Their Majesties spent some minutes chatting to her. The King also met Colonel Luis Scott, who was the Air Force officer in command in Farnborough when the King trained there. MR ABERHART’S WELCOME. The Premier of Alberta, Mr Aberhart, who a few months ago closed Government House, and forced the King’s representative, the LieutenantGovernor, Mr J. C. Brown, to move to an hotel, welcomed their Majesties to Alberta. Standing on the steps of his Parliament Buildings, ne assured the King of “the sincere and enduring loyalty of the people of this province to your Royal Throne, and to your most excellent person.” His only reference to the 25-dollar-a-month plan, which he has tried vainly to institute during his four years in office, was “‘The people of Alberta trust that under the guidance of Providence they may continue along the path of social, economic, and national progress.” The King replied: “I feel assured that, blessed as they are with rich and fertile soil and an enterprising and courageous spirit, the people will continue to overcome their many difficulties.” ‘Mr Aberhart aroused a "storm at Edmonton by bringing his nine-year-old granddaughter from Vancouver to present a Government bouquet to the Queen. The pfublic protest was so strong that at the last moment she was replaced by a child from a local orphanage. CROWD OUT OF HAND. The Australian Associated Press special correspondent says that, for the first time during the Royal tour, a crowd got out of hand today and forced their Majesties to cut short their visit to the University Hospital. Eighty beds containing returned soldiers were wheeled to the front of the building. Their Majesties, driving by, noticed them and told their chauffeur to stop. When they started to walk among the beds thousands of people swarmed into the grounds and the police were unable to control them. Finally, the Queen asked her escort to take her to the car, and in a mad crush the King and Queen ere jostled and pushed. Their Majesties ’ earlier had been invited to stand at the foot of the bed of a legless war veteran, who jocularly remarked that he was “only using part of the bed.” The Queen asked one veteran, “How long have you been here?” He replied, “I was wounded in 1914, your Majesty. I’ve been in this bed ever since I got home.” The Queen said nothing, but took a flower from her bouquet, which had been presented to her, and laid it in his hand. NOVEL GREETING FARM FAIR ON ROUTE OF PROCESSION. MANY FOREIGN-BORN SETTLERS. MELVILLE (Saskatoon). June 3. The special correspondent of the Australian Associated Press says that Saskatoon provided an unusual welcome from their Majesties today. A real country fair was spread out along the 11-mile procession route. Farm implements, truck-loads of grain and dairy produce and pens of horses, cattle. sheep and pigs lined the streets to the cheers of Saskatoon’s 45,000 citizens and 100,000 prairie visitors' as their Majesties rolled by.

.The animals added a remarkable symphony of startled squeals,, grunts, moos and drummed-out hoofbeats. Added significance was given the wonderful reception their Majesties are receiving everywhere on the prairies, by the fact that a big proportion of the population in these parts is foreign born. Mr Carl Niderost, mayor of Saskatoon, gave their viewpoint'in an address of welcome. He said, "Your loyal subjects here in many cases come from countries not under your rule. They have ,come, however, to know and appreciate the blessings of that freedom and liberty which, under the wise guidance of her Sovereigns, the British Empire has provided in everincreasing measure —a freedom and liberty for which an outstanding number of this province heeded the call of their country 20 years ago, and for which they would again should it be necessary.” The cheering throngs today included Doukhobors, a stubborn Russian sect which found refuge on the prairies, also numbers of Germans, including recent arrivals from Sudetenland. At the Touchwood water-tank, 15,000 mostly Ukrainians, many of them nationally dressed, entwined bunting in the barbed wire fences and decorated the water tank.

Prairie folk everywhere flocked to the railway line.' At Artland, with a normal population of 35, more than 5000 gathered, including trappers and miners from 350 miles north. At Unitey 10,000 cheered the passing train, a two-mile string of freight cars providing a grandstand. When the Royal train arrived at Melville at 10 p.m. to spend the night on the siding, their Majesties found 75,000 cheering and waving flags.

A GREAT CRUSH THEIR MAJESTIES MINGLE WITH CROWD. SCENES OF ENTHUSIASM IN MELVILLE. MELVILLE (Saskatoon), June 4. Their Majesties moved down from their train into the crowd in Melville laughing and chatting for 15 minutes. They paid special attention, as always, to returned soldiers. A spotlight from ihe railroad tower played down on them so that they were visible to a huge crowd. Finally, the crush became, so great that, unwillingly, they returned to the rear platform of the train. The King was overheard to. say, “Too bad we can’t get among them.” Both stood for 20 minutes on. the platform. The King, in fine spirits, waved continuously, and the Queen’s eyes, glistened as she acknowledged the cheers given in broken English, Russian, German and Scandinavian. The crowd finally broke down the barriers and swarmed into the station yard, and the mounted police were unable to push them back. The train was scheduled to remain in Melville all night, but because of the unprecedented crowd —Melville’s normal population is 4000—it was taken two miles beyond, and returned three hours later when the crowd has dispersed.