Freedom of Bath.

Hokitika Guardian, 25 July 1921, Page 3

Freedom of Bath.

CABLE NEWS.

AUSTRALIAN ANlt N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION (Received This Day at 8 a.m.) LONDON, July 2-1. The Freedom of the City of Bath was conferred on Messrs Cutch, Hughes, and Massey. The Mayor and councillors welcomed the visitors at the railway station. Three little girls presented Mesdames Hughes and Massey and Miss Massey with bouquets. The visitors then went in procession through the gaily decorated streets to the Grand Pump Room where the free-

dom was conferred. The guests included [Marquis of Bath, Viscount UUswater (formerly Speaker Lowther). The Mayor inconferring the freedom, said

it gove infinite pleasure to welcome the overseas representatives, not only on account of the statesmanship displayed during the difficult years, but also liecause they were representatives of the great nation beyond the seas. The freedom symbolized the fact that though we were separated by thousands of miles, yet all were of one stock, under one Empire, and one sovereign, with the same ideas, policies and hopes for the future. “We desire to remember the heroism and self sacrifice displayed by their ditnnt kinsmen during the war. The time is long past when the colonies were regarded rather as a burden than a bulwark of Empire. Hon Lloyd George recently reminded us that the Dominion forces turned the scale in the war and did their share in saving the world from Kaiserism.”

Addressing Mr Hughes, the Mayor said “When we recall Anzao and oallipjpli we may well ask whether anything is impossible to such a nation, after the great deeds those names recall, nor do we forget that an Australian ship destroyed the Einden. We also remember what you have dime during your Premiership, not only in advancing your great dominion, but In helping forward the great desire for permanent peace throughout the world.” Addressing Mr Massey the Mayor said: “New Zealanders like their brother Australians showed us the stuff they were made of during the war. It is difficult to express in a few words our appreciation of your services in the cause of Empire. You always have been a, fighter and it is largely due to your efforts that the people of the Do minion threw their weight into the war for freedom. We are to show, in a slight measure our appreciation of what your people have done for us.” Alessrtf Hughes and Massey thanked the city for the honours paid thraugli them to their respective countries. Mr Massov highly eulogised Lord Jell icon’s services as Governor-General. At the luncheon in the Guildhall at Bath. Mr Frederick Wanton, wc 1

known litterateur, proposed the health of the visitors. He said all who had watched the incontestable events #f this annus mirahilis knew that the present moment was fraught with vast, problems, whereon the pence of the Kingdom and of the world depended. The occasion which brought into conference the Prime Ministers of the dominuions was itself one of the most remarkable crisis in onr time. Tt meant an entirely new reorganisation of Empire or rather a consolidation of the Allied commonwealth, under the crown. As an old historian he remembered bowvast and rapid was the progress, wherein their time. In the East, when he was a, f'i’owrv man, India was still governed bv a company of merchants. Now it had a. constitutional Government. In bis youth the great Australian Commonwealth and Canada, were colonies. When he was a schoolboy Melbourne, Sydney and Auckland were first built. Now they had seen what those powerful nationalists bad done in the war and peace. How glorious their deeds of arms, how much they could teach the old country not merely in cricket, but in every form of industry and civilisation. If a progress so vast bad been achieved in the life-time of one man, what might not the future have in store for them and for us. He described Mr Hughes as the unsurpassed orator in the English tongue, and Mr Masshv as a man of great experience both in peace an'd war.

Mr Hu(*lu*s replying said the Australians were endeavouring to builtj up in a. far-off land civilisation saturated with British ideals. The Overseas Dominions had he believed, as great and glorious a future as the British race ,could look hack upon, against institutions of the Rritsh Empire. To-day all forces of anarchy and destruction were gathered, hut so long as they stood firm together, neither the forces of anarchy and destruction nor of hell itself, would pievail against them (cheers). Mr Massey said the Empire had been i tremendous power for good, spreading enlightenment in every corner of the earth. The conference had done good work. Rome people thought of the Empire as the (Tnited Kingdom, but besides India and Dominions there were forty-three crown colonies. Tt was the aim of the conference to make H separate entities speak with one voice, as one nation. Notwithstanding the League of Nations, he could not help thinking that war was not at an end. We must prepare against attack and he strong enough to protect the chain of nations, of which the Empire consists.

MR MASSEY’S REPLY

(Received This Day. at 8.30 a.m.) LONDON, July 24. Replying to the presentation of the freedom of the city of Bath, Mr Massey said lie was not afraid to trust the native races with self Government. The opening of Panama Canal had made a tremendous difference to the countries in the Pacific. Strong navies meant life and death to us in the South Pacific. He wanted the Empire representatives at Washington to speak with one voice, as one man.