THE ROYAL TOUR

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 19719, 9 December 1926, Page 7

THE ROYAL TOUR

FINAL PUBLIC FUNCTION A NOTABLE GATHERING AUSTRALIAN AND NEW ZEALAND LUNCHEON TOUR EAGERLY LOOKED FORWARD TO By Telegraph—Per Press Asyn.—Copyright. LONDON, Dec. 7. The guests at the Australian and New Zealand Club’s luncheon to the Duke and Duchess of York included Lord and Lady Cavan, Sir J. A. Cockburn, the Hon. H. P. and Mrs Colebatch, Sir Joseph Cook, Wing-Com-mander Greig, General Home Manning, Rear-Admirals Share and Tredwen, Sir Archibald Weigtall, and Sir Frederick Young. Apologies for absence were received from the Hon. J. G. Coates and Sir James Parr. The Duchess looked charming in a powder blue coat frock, hat of beige, and fox fur, and she carried a bouquet of pink carinations. Sir Newton Moore, chairman, announced that this was the last public function at which the Duke of York would appear before his departure. He wished him bon voyage. The King had visited Australia la quarter of a century ago as the Duke of York and witnessed the birth of the nation now possessing equal status with the great nations of the world. An equally loyal welcome awaited the present Duke.

Merely an Augury. The Hon. S. M. Bruce skid: “The reception given you to-day is merely an augury of the enthusiasm with which you will be received on your arrival. A welcome awaits you surpassing any demonstration you have yet received, duo to Australia’s realisation of its privilege in being part of the Empire, but more particularly because you personally represent His Majesty, the unity of Empire and the embodiment of that mystic and extraordinary thing called the British Constitution, land because our people realise the devoted services the King, Queen and Royal Family give their peoples in all parts of the world. “We shall welcome you as a human being, recognising that you are a sportsmJan and a true democrat. It is to you and the Royal Family we have to look for the embodiment of democracy nowWe will welcome you in social movements particularly because of your devotion to the cause of the rising generation on which the Empire’s prosperity rests. They should be the object of all our endeavours. You will come bmong people who have passed the stage of infancy and have proved to be a nation, proud of their status and self-governing rights, but ever remembering that they are part of the Empire; proud of their citizenship in the Commonwealth of Nations standing *or all th&t is most precious in the civilisation of the world. “Yours is a great mission as an ambassador of the Empire, providing an essentially personal touch. When we are passing through a period of change in our Imperial relations nothing can be more valuable than your visit, which is a great opportunity for you and a great privilege for us.” (Applause). Duke and. Duchess Delighted. “ There is something so stimulating in a gathering of Australians land New Zealanders,” said the Duke of York in responding. “I speak from experience. This is not the first similar gathering I have attended. We are delighted with the thought of visiting your countries. I count it a high honour being asked to open Canberra, which I trust will mark a new period of prosperity in Australia.

11 ‘Go and sec for yourselves’ is a fine precept. Travel is becoming quicker and easier to the furthest parts of the Empire. Lord Stonehaven traverses vast stretches by aeropltane as easily ns a train journey from London to Edinburgh. Sir Alan Cobham flies to Australia and back in a few weeks. Mr Bruce sends a wireless message from Rugby and receives a reply in 23 minutes. It mUy not be long before Mr Coates, in Wellington, can talk wirelessly with London, and receive a reply in 23 seconds. There is a risk that the inventors will go on inventing until it is impossible to travel because you will be swept beyond your destination in the moment of starting. Wherefore we are hastening to Australia before The progress of science defeats its own ends. As Robert Louis Stevenson, who made his home on an island in the ocean washing your shores, said, ‘lt is better to travel hopefully than to arrive,’ but with us the welcome awaiting is better than the journey, however attractive.

“The members of the last Conference h&ve hardly seen Britain at its best. We have been undergoing a severe ?n--dustrial difficulty and the burden lies heavily on us, but the Old Country is not done yet —far from it. (Cheers). There is leeway to make up, but we shall come through triumphant, the first to rejoice being our overseas kinsmen. I hope the Conference delegates will take back messages of our warm affection. I shall not say ‘good-bye,’ but ‘au revoir. ’ ’’ Amid the applause greeting the Duke’s speech his reference to New Zealand by the Maori name “Long White Cloud” (Ao-tca-roU.) evoked a special cheer. Future Comnninicatloii Mr L. S. Amery, proposing the toast of the chairman, said: “The Duke of York’s quotation from Stevenson reminded me of a certain prince who desired to attend an international celebration at Mlalta. Ho returned fruitlessly, his admiral explaining that there was no such place, because he had hunted the Mediterranean up and down and could not find it. I trust the Renown will be able to find so modest and shrinking a little spot as Australia (laughter), and also find her way back,

as many visiting Australia have not seemed to be table to do.

“I am thinking of the future when | the Prime Ministers of Australia will enter their high-power wireless station (at Canberra, after which their disintegrated problems will be reassembled at .Rugby. Serious constitutional problems might arise if Mr Hughes and General |Hertzog Slashed simultaneously and got [mixed up, but the Duke and Duchess [will not be exposed to this risk. They represent the Crown, which since the [lmperial Conference stands out more (clearly than ever as the one great unit- | ing factor through the Empire which has one Crown and one great body and |is the subject of that Crown, united in loyalty to it land through it to each other. The Crown is not merely a mystic symbol of our unity—it is something personal, human, friendly and democratic—and therefore the value of its. representatives establishing contact not only with Britons but with overseas Dominion people is inestimable.” Sir Newton Jiames Moore, in responding, recalled his commanding the 1901 Royal Escort to Australia to the then Duke of York, wherefore it was most interesting that he should preside at the valedictory to the present Duke.