KRUGER'S COACH.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 18906, 22 January 1927, Page 5

KRUGER'S COACH.

GIFT TO SOUTH AFRICA.

SURPRISE FOR GENERAL

HERTZOG

IfilCCf Cl'R OVX COB3S3rOKBEKT.j

LONDON, November 19City workers turned out iu 'their thousands to-day to watch the several processions of State connected with tlio presentation of the Freedom ol London to three Dominion Prnuo Ministers (including Mr J. G. Coated at the Guildhall, followed by a civic luncheon at the Mansion House. Ordinary traffic was diverted, the thoroughfares being left clear lor an lniposii * turn-out of the Lord Mayor in Mate and for the unhindered parage ot ine fine motor-cars, some of which carritu small flags of the Dominions. The crowds cheered tremendously when the Lord Mayor, the Duke and Duchess of York, Prince Arthur of Connaught, and several members ot tlie Cabinet passed by, but beyond a doubt iho greatest cheer was reserved feu tne three Prime Ministers. The Mansion House luncheon was a interesting and pleasant function liUd in the Egyptian Hall amid all the brilliance that accompanies a l» occasion. The gold plate-rows of it behind the Mayoral Chair, and pieces adorning each of the ten tables, and the rich liveries of the Mansion House staff were striking features in the ornate hall. The company was assembled awaiting the arrival of the Lord Mayor and the City's chief guests. The Lord Mayor, preceded by his MaceBearer, headed the procession. Behind walked Prince Arthur of Cpnnaught with the Lady Mayoress, followed by Mr and Mrs Coates (whose seat was at the right hand of Prince Arthur), and the other guests of honour from boutJi Africa and Newfoundland. The ladies carried beautiful bouquets. Sir f/ancis Bell, Miss Bell, and Mrs G. H. 1.. Ljlleston were seated at the high .table, as also were Sir James and Lady larr, Lord and Lady Liverpool, Lord and Ladv Islington. Others present included Mr F. D. Thomson, Sir fhoroas Mackenzie, Mrs A. V. McDonald Mr C. A. Berendsen, Dr. H. A. H. Gilmer, Mrs Gilmer. Grace was said by the Rev. W. P. Besley, M.V.0., Rector of St. Lawrence, Jewry, Chaplin to the Lord Mayor, and a former Master at Wanganui Collegiate School. For a number of years he was a Minor .Canon of St. Paul's Cathedral. The Lord fllayo r said he would like to refer to the immense interest which the Rova] House took in the affairs of the Empire as evidenced by their visits to various parts of the Dominions and India., .The long tours made by the Prince of Wales enabled him to see manv of the British possessions, and the approaching visit to New Zealand and Australia of the Duke and Duchess of York, who had already been to Kenya, was looked forward to with the greatest interest and gratification. The Corporation of the City of London knew no politics, and its Rolls contained the names of illustrious men and women, who, in war and peace, had done their best to maintain the safety, welfare, and honour of our Sovereign and his Dominions. Arts of' Peace. "There is one announcement with special reference to South Africa that I wish to make," he continued. It is that the City of London desires to offer to the Government of South Africa, President Kruger's travelling waggon—(loud cheers)—which was given by Lord Kitchener to Lord Bearsted, one of .my predecessors in. office, and by him to the City of London. -It will be recalled that certain figures and plaques, originally designed for the memorial of President Kruger at Pretoria, which were presented by Lord Kitchener to the Royal Engineers''lnstitute, at Chatham, were handed some- five years ago to the Government and people of South Africa by the' King as colonel-in-chief of the Royal Engineers, and that Lord Kitchener's trustees presented similar figures from Broome Park. His Majesty s gracious action and the kindness of Lord Kitchener's trustees have suggested that it would bo a fitting.act if the Corporation were to return the travelling waggon to .South Africa, to be added-to,the collection,in Pretoria of articles belonging to President Kruger, whose memory we know is cherished m South Africa as one of. her greatest sons. (Cheers.) As follow members of the British Commonwealth, associated in equal freedom nnder our gracious and beloved King, we, thank God, can look on ithese trophies of a past struggle without enmity or bitterness. Our only rivaley to-day is in the arts of peace, in the fields of industry and commerce, which by their labour and enterprise can most contribute, in cooperation, one with" another, to the welfare, the civilisation, and the peace of the world." (Cheers.) London's 801 l of Fame. Proposing the toast of the Prime Ministers of New Zealand, South Africa, and Newfoundland—the three new l'Veemen of the City of London, the Lord Mayor said: "At the Lord Mayor's banquet last week, Mr Baldwin told us that the toast of his Majesty's Ministers included his Majesty's Ministers from all parts of the world. (Hear, hear.) We have with us to-day five Prime Ministers from overseas, all of whom have now been entered upon what has been called 'London's Roll of Fame.' Their predecessors in office were also Freemen of the City, for we recollect with pleasure the visits of Sir Robert Borden, Mr Meighen, Mr Hughes, Mr Deakin, Mr Massey, General Botha, General Smuts, Mr Moor, and Mr Morris.

Mr Coates was the first to reply, and he said lie felt that the honour bestowed was not altogether for himself alone, tut for the citizens of New Zealand. Every citizen in New Zealand welcomed and thoroughly appreciated the very high honour that had been bestowed upon him that day. It was interesting to recall that it was only 86 years ago that an attractive controversy took place in the City of London; that the earliest attempts in the colonisation of New Zealand were made in the City of London; and it was from the Port of London that the first shipload of colonists sailed. The controversy in Parliament and in the Press of London which at tho time raged round the Whole question of British colonisation, and which particularly centred upon whether New Zealand should be officially recognised as a British colony, made particularly interesting reading in these enlightened days. However, wise counsel prevailed, and by treaty with the Maoris, New Zealand, in 1840, came under the British Crown. What a change the comparatively few intervening ycaTS had brought! To-day the country, which Britain did not want, was one of her largest suppliers of foodstuffs, nnd stood high, also, in tho list of the Mother Country's best customers. Hie population of the Dominion might stui be small, but it was rapidly increasing, and even to-day, so excellent was its distribution, that it fairly ™™ ei f* whole of the main islands. Settlement, industry, and the general social hie of the country were on an advanced wafe. Its railways, roads, P ostal '/f/ s eg fS and telephonic civic protons * e ° d aS and P elect ricity, anywhere in^the wo™, generated by pie*"* , able over was rapidly being maae the whole Doming, in far retirements,

and offered the advantages they gave as ail inducement to others to settle there. The value of New Zealand's exports last year was approximately £56,000,000 sterling. General Hertzog's Thanks. General Hertzog expressed his thanks for the gracious and spontaneous act, announced by the Lord Mayor, of restoring to the people of South Africa tho travelling waggon of their former President, who was still cherished in the memory of them all. That act of friendship and goodwill would be deeply appreciated for the motives it inspired. South Africa -would deeply appreciate the manner in which its representatives at the Conference had been received by tho people and Government of Great Britain in ( their endeavour to settle upon a secure and firm basis. Their endeavours had been to build up and not to destroy, and ho would leave London with a good satisfaction that their meetings wero proof of lasting success and lasting blessing to them' all, severally and individually. He had not the least doubt that South Africa would not be the least in her steadfast co-operation with other parts of the Empire. (Applause.)