THE KING MEETS HIS MINISTERS

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 95, 8 May 1937, Page 5

THE KING MEETS HIS MINISTERS

-Pien Atsn.

Historic Luncheon At Westmin^ter LEGISLATORS WEiCOMED

(By TeUftfph-

Copyriyht.)

(Beceived .8, 1.30 P-m.) LONDON, May 7* At the Empire Parliament.ary luncheon, the Sfug pat in a chqir hFPqght from Buckingham Pala.ce. Lord Hailsliam, as Lord Chancellor, sat at his right and Captain Fitzroy, as Bpoaker pf the Bquse pf Commons, at his ieff. The ggef.ts sat at siaaU round pak tkMP®* His Majesty uppn §hP°k hands with each Dpminion rppresehtative, and then took his plapp at the high table amid the PfiJhe Ministers, British Cabinpt tnPPthehs, the Ea?J of Athlone, the Archhishop pf Canterbury and pthers, whpse spntbrp paprning dress was reiieved TPhed L1di'ans and Dnrmppe. My J, A. Lyqns sat nest tp Mr Nev" ille Chamberlain while Mr M J- Sayage sat neat to Major Attlee at the top table. Lqpking down on the ©ight hundred gueats, His Majesty looked rqbust and sun tanned and cQnyersed yigoronsly with Lord Hailsham and Captain Fitzroy aud was undpnbtediy in exceilent spiiitS, His Majesty began his speech nervonsly and spoke very alowly but soon waimed up, making a ®pipu3idly audible speech, pxcellently punctuated, which emphasised that his stamnier has now comnletely disappeared. Beplying tp the Loyai Toast, His Majesty said, '-I am delighted to have an early ppportuhity of weiconung my Primc Ministers and other Ministers from overseas, as well as SP many. representatives of several Parliamehte of the Empire. . ?This is an histoTip oceasion. It is the iirst time a Sovereign has been present at a luncheon in Westminster Hall to meet these who represent the legislatures of thp Empire. What worthier setting could h® imagined than this ancient hall, which has been at once the scene and silent witness of sp many stirring events in the history pf the Parliament pf this country!^ Here have grpwn UP the prmciplee which f orm the buiwark pf the system known tp us as Parliamentqry government. Those principies have been parried by the people of our race to the ends of the parth; they are the heritage and pride pf all parts pf ihe British Commonwealth of

Nations." At the Gondusion pf the function, the King walked down tho centre of the hall, followed by the Empire representatives. Prolonged applausa followed when Captain Fitzrqy, tnming to the King, said, " Your Majesty, we have the utmost confidence in the future of your reign."