Their Excellencies Farewelled

Radio Record, Volume III, Issue 31, 14 February 1930, Page 1

Their Excellencies Farewelled

ON February 6th one of the most impressive broadcasts that has yet been arranged in New Zealand was consummated on the occasion of the farewell to Their Excellencies the Governor-General (Sir Charles Fergusson) and Lady Alice Fergusson. The scene of the _ ceremony was the Town Hall, Wellington, and the enthusiasm displayed by the huge gathering present was a splendid indication of the popularity and high esteem in which Their Excellencies are held by by the people of New Zealand. The foresight of the Broadcasting Company in arranging for the whole proceedings to be broadcast was commendable.

HE Town Hall had been beautifully decorated for the occasion. Rows of flags were suspended from the roof, great medallions dressed with fiags hung on the supporting columns, a great array of flowers, foliage, plants and shrubs were on the platform, and the table at which the Mayor (Mr. G. A. Troup) presided was covered with a large silk Union Jack. The hall was crowded to the doors. A ze. of honour of Boy Scouts and Guides was formed along the Ptxtre aisié, and as Their Excellencies and suite entered amidst enthusiastic applause, all present stood while the first few bars of the National Anthem pealed. out on the grand organ. Their Excellencies proceeded to the platform, above which was suspended a large banner bearing the words: "Wellington bids Farewell and Godspeed to Their Pxcellencies." Heavy applause broke out once more, but finally this died down and the speechmaking, interspersed with musical items, commenced, Most Able Representatives. THE HON. G. W. FORBES (Acting Prime Minister) expressed regret that Sir Joseph Ward was not able to be present, but said they would be glad to hear that he was well on the way -to complete recovery. He continued /to speak of the remarkable way that Their Excellencies had won the hearts of the people, and of the ungrudging manner in which they had taken part

in both the joys and the sorrows of the country. Their memories would always be cherished in the Dominion, and in tendering farewell on behalf of the Government he wished them good health and prosperity in the future. Master of His Subject. "THE Chief Justice (the Hon. Sir Michael Myers) recalled the time when Sir Charles Fergusson first took office in succession to Lord Jellicoe, and said the Dominion was fortunate in having two such able men to fulfil the high office of Governor-General. The popularity of Their Excellencies was not to be wondered at, particularly among the children, which was a natural response of the children to the kindness and sympathy shown to them. They also appreciated the tactful manner in which he had spoken on matters of importance. They hoped it would not be the last time that they would visit New Zealand, and that in any case they would have very happy memories of the Dominion. If ever they did return they would be welcomed with open arms. (Applause.) +

The Work of Her Excellency. ADDRESSIN G Their Excellencies, the Mayor said the gathering was representative of the high esteem and affection in which they were held by the people of Wellington and surrounding districts. The people had feelings of thankfulness that they had had Sir Charles Fergusson as Governor-General during the past five years, and in Lady Alice Fergusson they had an example of all that was noble and good in woman. Whatever their circumstances, no section of the community had been neglected. Mr. Troup said he could not pass without referring to the organisation of the League of Mothers in New Zealand founded by Lady Alice Fergusson, which would always be a monument to Her Excellency and her interest in the women and children of New Zealand. The Mayor then presented the bound address and album enclosed in casket from citizens of Wellington and surrounding district and members of the Wellington Harbour Board, details of vhich have already been published.

This was followed by ringing applause from every corner of the hall. The Address. The address read as follows :-- To His Excellency, General Sir Charles Fergusson, Baronet, L.L.D., G.C.M.G., K.C.B., D.8.0., M.V.O., Governor-General and Commander-in-Chief of the Dominion of New Zealand and its Dependencies. May it please Your ExcellencyWe, the Mayors, chairmen, councillors and people of Wellington and surrounding districts and the members of the Wellington Harbour Board, loyal and dutiful subjects of His Most Gracious Majesty King George the Fifth, on the eve of your departure from this Dominion desire to present to you in no perfunctory manner but in response to a genuine impulse of the heart some record of the debt of gratitude which we as New Zealanders owe to Your Excellencies for the great work which you have accomplished during your term of office, and of the personal loss which each of us will feel on your departure. Family Tradition. B recall first of all that your father, Sir James Fergusson, served this Dominion as Governor, and also that the Earl of Glasgow, the father of Lady Alice’ Fergusson, served in the same capacity, and we feel that Your Hxcellencies have further strengthened the bonds of affection between the

citizens of this country and your distinguished families. ‘ime would fail us to recount the many and varied activities undertaken by you for the social and national advancement of the people of this country, the encouragement and example shown by you to all classes and creeds, to forsake things which are petty and pursue those things which enrich and ennoble life; but we would especially mention the initiative and foresight by which the League of Mothers was founded by Her Pxcellency. Religion, literature, music and art in this country have all been encountered by Your Hxcellencies, and Huropean and Maori alike have been helped to treasure those things which uplift and inspire. First to Weleome-Last to Farewell. S the people of the Wellington dis- "* trict were the first to welcome you as Governor-General, and since then have regarded Your Wxcellencies as residents of Wellington, and therefore particularly their own, it seems fitting that they should be the last to bid you farewell, and they do so with feelings stirred to a-realisation of the loss they ure about to sustain. We wish Your Excellency and Lady Alice Fergusson a pleasant voyage to your Homeland, and a period of relaxation after your arduous and exacting labours in this country. We trust you will convey to His Majesty an expression of our devoted loyalty to his Throne and person, and of our thankfulness and joy at his restoration to health; which we sincerely hope will be permanent. Signed on behalf of: City of Wellington: Geo. A. Troup, Mayor. The Wellington Harbour Board: J. W. McEwan, chairman. , The Borough of Lower Hutt: Alex. I. Roberts, Mayor. The Borough of Petone: D. McKenzie, Mayor. The Borough of Hastbourne: H. M. Jones, Mayor. The Borough of Upper Hutt: P. Robertson, Mayor. The County of Hutt: D. R. Hoggard, ehairman,

The Town District of Johnsonville: A. A. Moore, chairman. The County of Makara: Ernest Windley, chairman. The Governor-General’s Speech. HAT part of the broadcast which provoked most interest among listeners was the Governor-General’s speech. ‘This, technically, was excellent, and every word came over with perfest clarity. For any who inadvertently missed part of the broadcast we reproduce the major portion of that memorable speech. His Excellency on rising to respond was received with a burst of applause that must have been heard some distance from the Town Hall. To all those concerned in that expression of farewell on the termination of his term of office, His: Mxcellency expressed his sincerest appreciation. Their expressions were beyond words and touched him and Her Excellency very deeply, he said. The would treasure them as among the many happy memories, which they would have of Wellington, the home of their childhood and the place so intimately associated with the past five happy years of their residence in New Zealand. "Tt has been a happiness and privilege," continued Sir Charles, "to have entered in those five years into your daily life, and to have had some part in promoting with you the interests of this city and of the Dominion, and so build up with you the Empire to which New Zealand has always been proud to show her loyalty and give of her best. The renewed assurances of that loyalty to the King’s throne and person which is expressed in your address I shall be happy to conve to His Majesty. (Applause.) We thank you greatly for this testimony of your kindly feeling towards us, and in bidding you farewell we assure you that we shall always retain the happiest memories of her people who have honoured us with their friendship and their confidence." "We do Value Your good Opinion." IS BXCHLLENCY expressed thanks for the combined farewell which had been arranged, which had saved a great deal of time and several visits ele. w

which he would otherwise have had to make, The kindly and generous expressions which had been used-beyond anything they deserved or could have deserved-were so sincere that they would cherish them to the end of their days. . "If, as you say, we have gained your confidence and your affection, then you say something which we greatly prize, because we do value your good opinion and we make no secret of it.’ (Applause.) The sympathy and indulgence for which they asked on their arrival five years ago the people of New Zealand had never failed to give. Not long after their arrival in Wellington the marriage took place of their daughter here, and they would never forget the kindness lavished upon her and upon themselves on that occasion. They had gone on from one happy year to another without one unkind criticism, and their stay had been one of unalloyed happiness. They loved Wellington because they ‘grew up with her as children, and with their second stay they had come to love her more and more. (Applause.) . Wonderful Progress. HY had seen wonderful developments; places like Seatoun, Miramar and Karori had extended widely, and there was the growth of the hill stations like Ngaio, Khandallah and Johnsonville, and Petone and the Hutt Valley spreading wider and wider. They had seen new roads, new activities of the City Council in every direction, a new aerodrome, and endless other things. In the harbour they had seen new wharves and appliances and new reclamations, testifying to the wonderful organisation and activities of the Harbour Board. And they had seen in the last few days the celebration of the jubilee of that port. "We are now much to our. regret leaving. I look back to that day 56 years ago when I left Queen’s Wharf as it was then in a sailing ship-a big ship in its day of something like 750 tons. (Laughter.) We were on board nearly four months. The day after to-morrow we sail on a motor-vessel of 17,000 tons on a voyage which will take little more than as many weeks as it took months before." Reflections. IS EXCELLENCY, continuing, said he was thinking that night of the wonders and beauty of New Zealand

lakes, mountains and bush, of Wellington Harbour in the bright morning. sun and at sunset on such an as that when the setting sun lighted up the hills and the shadows deepened in the valleys; of the seasons when the clematis bloomed, the kowhai, the lupin in the riverbed, and even the much-despised gorse when in its morning glory. He was thinking of the happy children when he asked for a holiday for them, of the people they had seen working on the land, contributing largely to the prosperity of the country; of those who worked in the factories; of the miners North and South-coal and gold-of those who worked not only with their brains but those who toiled with their hands; of the people in the earthquake area, as they saw them in July, bearigg theix troubles bravely and. Ap best of them. He was thinking of t Public Works and railway men who restored the roads for the community in danger of their lives from landslips; of the gum-diggers' in the north, the quarry workers of the south; the people of the islands and the welcome they gave which still rang in their ears; of the Chatham Islands, with nothing between it and the South Pole, and the gathering of school children there when they waved the Union Jack and sang the National Anthem as if in Wellington, a wonderful conception of the Empire. He was thinking of the settlers in the backblocks, of the memorials. he had unveiled to the sacrifices New Zealand had made in the war, of those who eame back from the war maimed, blinded and broken, of his comrades of the Great War and the South African War, the R.S.A., and tha" happy times he had spent with them, and their Maori friends and their history, poetry and legends. He implored the Maori people to hold fast to their language, their poetry, their old customs and traditions, and while he could not speak their language he would remind them of one of their brevities: "Union is strength, dissension is death." Seeing the Future. IS EXCHLLENCY recalled many happy gatherings at Government House, adding that. he now came to what in some respects was the pathetic part. He would like to speak of how he (Concluded on page 21.) . ee

Excellencies Farewelled iv

(Continued from page 2.) would like to see the future of New Zealand. He would like to see the children of New Zealand grow up preserving that naturalness, that simplicity and gentleness which had always characterised the people of New Zealand. He would like to see the parents, by precept and example, bring up their children with a love of brotherhood, to serve God, to honour the King (applause), bringing up their children to be sober, God-fearing people. praying, steadfast and sympathetic. He would like to see them apply the principles of Christianity to all their dealings with their fellow-men, to preserve the fundamentals of citizenship as handed down by their forbears, having courage, endurance, self-reliance, loyalty and a " strong religious faith. New Zealand . had often been described as "God’s Own Country," and well might it be called that, though they could take no credit for it, but what they could strive to be was "God’s own people." (applause.) "Ts it a dream?’ asked His DWxcellency. "I don’t see why it should be. It might be a reality, and I have faith in the people of New Zealand to believe that, in the words of Lord Rosebery, ‘they will not shrink from

any sacrifice in the fulfilment of their mission.’" (Loud applause.) "Good-bye." It now remained to say good-bye, and he hoped the people of New Zealand would believe how grateful they were for the kindness, sympathy and consideration shown to them. At present their feelings of sorrow at leaying were paramount. The joy and pleasure of going Home would come later. To the end of their lives they would have the happiest memories of the "land of the long white cloud," and the people who were their friends. (Applause. ) A Native Gift. T the conclusion of the proceedings a huge basket of New Zealand berries and foliage gathered from nearly all the great national parks was presented to Her Hxcellency by Sir Alexander Roberts on behalf of the Maoris in recognition of the great interest she has always shown in the Dominion’s native flora and fauna. In accepting the gift, Lady Alice Fergusson was greeted with thunderous applause, which lasted for some time. The Mayor, in replying on her behalf, referred to her great love of our native bush, flowers and shrubs. The proceedings concluded with the singing of the National Anthem. Dur- ing the evening songs were sung by Mrs. Amy G. Woodward, Mrs. Winifred Andrews, Mr. Harison Cook, and

a ‘cello solo was rendered by Mr. Claude Tanner, Mr. Bernard F. Page, City Organist, being the accompanist.