THE DUKE OF YORK.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLVII, Issue 9, 8 December 1926, Page 9

THE DUKE OF YORK.

COMING TOUR OF DOMINIONS. • : ' • ' r V ,• . WARM WELCOME ASSURED. REFERENCE TO NEW ZEALAND. (By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) Received December 8, 9.25 a.m. LONDON, Dec. 7. The guests at the Australian and New Zealand Clubs’ luncheon to the Duke and Duchess of York included Lord and Lady Ca van, Sir John Cookburn, Mr and Mrs Colebatch, bir Joseph Cook, Wing-Commander Greig, Generals Home and Manning, RearAdmirals Share and Tredwen, Sir Archibald Weigall and Sir Frederick Young. . Apologies for absence were received from Mr and Mys Coates and Sir James Parr. The Duchess looked charming in a powder blue coat frock with a hat of beige, a fox fur, and bouquet of pink carnations. “BON VOYAGE.” Sir Newton Moore, the chairman, announced that this was the last public function at which the Duke of York would appear before his departure on the tour of the Dominions and he wished him bon voyage. The King visited Australia a-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. Mr Brace said: “The reception given you to-day is merely an augury of the enthusiasm with which you will le received on your arrival. A welcome awaits you surpassing any demonstration you have yet received, this being due to Australia's realisation ot its privilege in being part of the Empire, but more particularly because you personally represent His Majesty, the unity of the Empire and the embodiment of the mystic and extraordinary thing called the British constitution, and because our people realise the devoted services the King and Queen and the Royal Family give their peoples in all parts of the world.

A TRUE DEMOCRAT. “Wo shall welcome you as a human being, recognising that you are a sportsman and a true democrat. It is to you -and the Royal Family that we have to look for the embodiment of democracy nowadays. We will welcome you because of your great interest in §ooiil movements, particularly 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 among 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 they are part of the Empire and proud of citizenship in the Commonwealth of Nations standing for all that is most precious in the civilisation of the world. A GREAT MISSION. Yours is a great mission as an ambassador of the Empire, providing the essential 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). THE DUKE S REPLY. “There is something so stimulating in a gathering of Australians and New Zealanders,” said the Duke of York when responding. “I speak from experience; this is not the first similar gathering that 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 1 trust will mark a new period of prosperity in Australia. ‘Go and see for yourselves’ is a fine precept. , TRAVEL BECOMING EASIER. “Travel is becoming quicker and easier to the furthest parts of the Empire. Lord Stonehaven traverses vast stretches by aeroplane as easily as a train journey from London to Edinburgh; Sir Alan Cobham flies to Australia and back in a few weeks; Mr Bruce sends ■ wireless messages from Itugby and receives a reply in 23 minutes. It may not be long before Mr Coates in Wellington can talk wrielessly with London and receive a reply in 23 seconds. There is a risk that inventors will go on inventing until it is impossible to travel because you will be swept beyond your destination in the moment of starting. Therefore we ar.s hastening to see Australia before the progress of sci 7 ence defeats its own ends. As R. L. Stevenson who made his home on an island in the ocean washing your shores said: ‘lt is better to travel hopefuily than to arrive,’ but with us the welcome awaiting is better than the journey however attractive. The members of the last conference have hardly seen Britain at its best. We have been undergoing severe industrial difficulty.

OLD COUNTRY NOT DONE YET. “The burden lies heavily on us, but the Old Country is not done yet—far from it. (Cheers). There is leeway to make up, bub 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.’ ” Amidst the applause greeting the Duke’s speech his reference to New Zealand by the Maori name, “Long white cloud” (Ao Tea Roa) evoked special cheer. “MODEST AUSTRALIA.” Mr L. C. Amory in proposing the toast of the chairman said “The Duke of‘York's quotation from R. L. Stevenson reminded me of a certain prince who desired to attend an international celebration at Malta. He 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 molest, shrinking little spot as Australia . (laughter) and also find her way back as soon as so'many visiting Australians have not seemed able to do. I am thinking of the future when Prime Ministers of Australia will enter , the high power wireless station at Canberra after which their disintegrated messages will be reassembled at Rugby. Serious constitutional problems might arise if Mr Hughes and General Hertzog flashed imultaneously and got mixed up, but he Duke and Duchess will not be exnosed to this risk. They represent the Crown, which since the conference

stands out more clearly than ever as the ore great uniting factor through the Empire. The Empire has one Crown and the parts of one great body are subjects of that Crown, united in lovalty to it and 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 the overseas Dominion people, is inestimable.” Sir Newton Moore, in responding, recalled his commanding the 1901 Royal escort to Australia to the then Duke of York, and said that it was most interesting he should preside at the valedictory to the present Duke. —A. and N.Z. cable. “GRAND HOWL.” THE DUKE—BOY SCOUT. LONDON, Nov. 28. Wearing a Boy Scout’s uniform, the Duke of York attended a cubs’ palaver yesterday in the East End. He was accorded a “Grand Howl.” The Duke said that he hoped to see many Soouts in Australia and New Zealand, and he would take their messages of greeting to their overseas comrades.