DINNER TO OVERSEAS DELEGATES

Hokitika Guardian, 13 September 1926, Page 3

DINNER TO OVERSEAS DELEGATES

[BY TELEOn,U*H —I-F.K I’ItKSS ASSOCIATION.J

AUCKLAND, September 13. The British Parliamentary I’ait.'headed by the -Marquis ol Kalisbui \. arrived by the Aorangi oil Sunday night and were entertained h» - hours in the city and at a New Zealand Government dinner betore loading for Rotorua as the guests of the Government.

The partv return late to-night and leave for Australia by the Aorangi at mid-night. The dinner to the members ol the

Parliamentary delegation was given at the Grand Hotel. Hon .1. C. Coates, who was unable to attend owing to his ! early departure for the Imperial Conference. was represented by Sir Heaton Rhodes who presided. Sir James Allen was also present. Kir 11. Rhodes said New Zealand had many interests with England, not least of which wa.s that of trade. He would remind them that seventy-two per cent of the Dominion’.-, trade was done with nations of the Empire, while lorty-uine per cent of her imports came from Great Britain. The country was only eighty years old, but it was felt tbc advance bad been duo to the silent watch of the British navy. Although New Zealand was not perhaps contributing very much towards the Navy, they hoped that more would he done in the future. Sir H. Rhodes concluded: “ Above all. we want you to realise our slogan is ‘ Loyalty to King and Constitution.” (Applause.) Lord Salisbury, replying, said the note touched by Sir H. Rhodes in hi? speech was a notable one. Ho bad struck a note of common tradition, of common loyalty, of common determination to stand together against the world. (Applause.) Everyone in Eng bind know what New Zealand’s loynlt.w was. They could only express what they felt in their hearts, their deep regard and affection for New Zealand.

l -u- Arthur . Henderson said it was mite true that during the war there was n welding together of all sections of the Empire, but there were vital problems to be faced, such as we had never had to face before. It wa.s in the consciousness of these, that the delegation were going to Australia and though they could not make any definite decisions they were going to prepare the way for tho people to find solutions for these problems. He had "onfidonec that the common sense of a majority of the people of the British Commonwealth of Nations would 9 carry them through.

AUCKLAND, Sep!,. 13

The vigour of England is quite unimpaired, was the substance of a. message which the Marquis of Salisbury brings with him. as head of the Parliamentarians. Upon the table re Doan [nge being brought to his notice, the Marquis dismissed it with the remark that such an outburst was nothing new for the Dean. The thing most needed was industrial co-operation. It was essential that we should have industrial peace. The Marquis’ specially dwelt on the loyalty the Dominions showed to the Empire. They had found it in Canada and New Zealand and expected to find the same in Australia.