N.Z. DINNER

Hokitika Guardian, 21 June 1927, Page 1

N.Z. DINNER

HON AMERY FAREWELLED

( Australian & N.Z. Cable Association.)

LONDON, June 17

There were 400 enthusiastic guests at the New Zealand annual dinner at Mayfair Hotel.

Sir James Parr presided. •Mr L. C. M. S. Amery, Secretary for the Dominions, was the chief guest, and others were Earl Jellicoe, brilliantly medalled, Sir Joseph Cook, Sir Janies Mills, Lord Islington, Mr Douglas Hav, tho Bishop of London, Earl Liverpool, Air Huxliam, Air Robert Bell, Air P. A. Brett, Admiral Beal, Generals Chaytor, Furse, Peter, Larkin and Hyland, many shipping, hanking and produce representatives, Lord Vestcy and Air 11. T. B. Drew.

The menu, which was outstandingly characteristic, included tonero-a soup and rainbow trout, sent by Air Coates at tho request of Sir James Parr, Canterbury lamb, passion fruit and ice.

A sensation was created on the appearance of an ice imago of a kiwi. The floral decorations included poliutuknwn, native ferns, flax, • rimu saplings and nikau palms. Sir James Parr bade Air Amery Godspeed on his dominions visit, and invited him to essay Mount Cook. Air Amery’s legal and .journalistic training, fortified by his military and political career, enabled him soundly to appreciate the Dominion temperament. Only good could result from ' a visit to the Dominion by a. statesman of such calibre. Others should follow the example of Afr Amery. Amid cheers and cries of “Kia Ora,” he said that the artist in ice last year thought those attending the dinner would he flattered by an ice kangaroo, but to-night’s artist was, on safer ground with the kiwi. The Imperial Conference demonstrated that the Empire was not administered and governed from one centre, but was a Commonwealth under a common crown.

Tho Bishop of London, Dr A. F. Wilmington Ingram, said that it was one of the cheeriest dinners ho had over attended. Ho hoped it would make all the other visitors want to go to New Zealand. He referred to the glorious, warmhearted welcome lie received, especially at Christchurch from the Alavor, who was a Baptist Alinistcr, a Labour member, and .a jolly good fellow too.

Tlie bishop never felt more at home than in New Zealand, whose archbishops and bishops were the finest he had met round tbo world.

Tt had been reported, he said, in a letter, to “The Times” that after seeing the Governor-General, the Prime Alinistcr and the Labour Party in New Zealand lie had formed the opinion that only 10,000 people could go fo New Zealand. Ho wished to make it clear .that the Governor-General had never said anything about migration. Sir James Parr interpolated a farewell toast to Sir Joseph Cook, saving ho was sure that all would join in wishing him many years of activity :«id usefulness. lAIPORTANOB OF TOUR. .

Earl Jellicoe, in proposing tho toast of the chairman, assured him of tho sympathy of every New Zealander in carrying out his important work. In tho intervals between conferences, it was desirable that British Ministers should go out and get into personal touch with their overseas colleagues. This applied particularly to the Secretary for the Dominions.

Air Amery said ho had most pleasurable anticipations of what his visit to Now Zealand would mean. Ho recalled his visit thither in 1913. and ho hoped to extend his mountaineering exploits, which were then confined to Afount Eden. He hoped to moot his colleagues who were building up New Zealand, which was a little nation with a great heart. Anzac had demonstrated this, as he had seen when visiting Russell’s Post in the days when all deemed victory near. New Zealand’s Samoan Administration was a true exemplification of the mandate. Tho lion W. Pember Beeves, in proposing the toast of the visitors, pointed out that Mr D. Hay was sitting opposite Earl Jellicoe, and ho suggested that if Afr Lowry wanted help he should send an “5.0.5.” for Earl Jellicoe, who was a notable batsman. The Bishop of London was a fisher of men, for which reason lie should have enjoyed the notable trout fishing of New Zealand. Afr Amery’s New Zealand visit should increase his eloquence. Afr Reeves also paid a tribute to .Sir Joseph Cook, and to Colonel Gray, who he described as “an Antipodean Adam who tempted the British Eve with New Zealand apples.”