IN FULL SWING

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 64, 2 April 1937, Page 13

IN FULL SWING

Air Mail — Own ^orrespondeut.)

Preparations for the Coronation WELCOMING VISITORS

(By

juuiNi^ury, iviamn oTributes to the warzn-heartedness of the people of Australia and New Zealand, founded on experiences during his recent tour, were paid by the Marquess of .Hartington, M.P., Parliamentary Under-Secretary for the Dommions, when. speaking at a dinner of the Royal Empire Society. "Out there," he said, "the people make the visitor feel that he is one of the family. I hope we vill do the same this year." On the-name occasion Sir Arehibald Weigall, chairman of the society'® council, appealed to Londctterg and English people gdnerally to throw off their veneer of ' 'stand-offishness" during Coronation year. The Lord Mayor, Sir George Broadbridge, ajso reminded the^ society that London belongs to inhabitants of distant paris of the Empire as well as to people of this country. "London has beauty and dignity, peace and tranquillity to set off against the thunder of her traffic, her dirt, her gjrime. She is London, whichever way it is — England' s old sweetheart, lovcd by her sons for 2000 years." Steel Barriers. Coronation preparations are now m full swing. The first experimental steel barriers to be erected for the protaction of the crowds lining the Coronation procession route have made their appearance, at Oxford Circus. They will shortly be placed at other points on th# route, also from an experimental point of view. The actual barriers are not to be ex-ected until May 12 — Coronation Day — and it is infcended that they shall be removed as aoon as possible after the procession has passed, So as not to impede the dispersal of spectators. The experiment at Oxford Circus has drawn attention to Scotland . Yard's plans for marshalling the vast crowds that will throng London' s streets on Coronation Day. Short steel barriers — "staggered" as at some football grounds — are to be erected in open spaces, such as the Marble Arcb, and at the issuing points of side turnings along the route. The principal adv&ntage of the tubular barriers is that they prevent crushingi and surging of crowds. Although no official arrangements have befin made for filming the Coronation in the Abbey, the Teehnicolour Company hopes to be in a position to obtain a colour picture. The site which it has in mind is one just above tbe central aisle in the Abbey. This would command a good view of the Throne, And would also afford a splendid op-

portunity of photographing the King and Queen as they pas« on- their V'ay out. The camera, oamouflaged by bunting, would not be conspicuous, Arrangements in the Abeby. Peers and peeresses who attend the Coronation ceremony in Westmiuster Abbey will »be supplied with a fork luncheon in the Royal Gallery of the House of Lords at a cost of 10/6 a head. This will consist of light dishes, sandwiches, cakes and coffee and lemonade Wines, spirits and minerals will ol&o be available, for which cash payment will bb taken at the time of ordering. These and other arrangements fnr those attending the Coronation are i,c-tv being made. The Offices of State, numbering nearly 400, who will take part in the ceremony, will have their breakfast in the Royal Gallery at d.fiO a.m. The Gold Staff Officers, who will act as ushers, have been notified that their duties will start at that time. It is estimated that they will carry on for over eight houra. The peers, peeresses and others invited to the ceremony will start arriving at the Abbey about 6 a.m., and from then on until the streets are elosed to all traffio at either 8 a.m. or 8.30 a-m. the ushers will be hai'd at work, a inember of Earl Marshal's staff announced this week. All will have to be sho wn to their seats by 9 o'clook- l'hen after a short respite. the gold staff offiders will have to arrange for departures. There are some 300 of them, and they are all active men. between the ages of 20 and 50. A luncheon similar to that for the peers and peeresses will be available in the King's Robing Room for "minor royal personages." There will be a buffet in Westininster Hall for people oecupying seats on the stands in Old Palace Yard. People on these stands and m seats all alongj the route of the procession •will be required to be in their places at the same time as that fixed for those arriving at the Abeby. More than 50 miles of London streets are to be dqcorated. It is anticipated that the average provincial town or London borough will require five miles of garlands, in addition to miles of bunting. The display will far exceed in extent and magnificence anything plattned for any former public event, and factories are woi'king overtime to meet the record demand. Ordors are pouring in at an increasing rate from all parts of the country. The Pope will be represented in London during the Coronation ceremonies in May by an archbishop, a monsignor, and one o'f th© Papa! Guard. It is understood that" the final choice of the archbishop has not yet been made known in London, but that it is not likely to be Dr. Hinsley, Archbisnop of Westminster. It is possible that a. cardinal may come. The Papal representatives will take pai-t only in civil furctions, but will attend a special service in Westminster Cathedral. Socialist Party leaders and Sorialist Privy Councillors will not wear court dress at the Coronation. The Parlia- . mentary Labour Paii>y executive has , decided that they will wear only even- ■ ing dres*