GUILD HALL BANQUET

Hokitika Guardian, 4 June 1930, Page 6

GUILD HALL BANQUET

TO PRESS COXFKHKXOI . DELEGATES.

Suited 'less Association- By Electro Telegraph- Copyright).

i Heed ved this d:iv at f). a.rri.! LONDON. June 3

Tile Lo d Mayor wore his robes, and turtle soup was served at Guildhall when liie .press of the United Kingdom gave a dinner to the ( 011ferenec delegates, but the traditional waiters were replaced by Lyons ‘nippy” girls. Lord Astor presiding, read the King’s message:—“it gives m e much pleasure to think such representative Umpire gathering is now assembled in my capital. The occasion is one of great importance lor 1 .know how valuable these conferences are and how much they contribute towards promoting sympathy and un;!eistanding. I wish every success to year efforts and look forward to' meeting all delegates in the near future.” Lord Astor toasting the guests said it was symbolical that the Lord Mayor should receive the visitors. It was a family wobunie. Governments might rise and fall, politicians might come and go. ‘but the newspapers were often permanent and stable. They hoped to show the visitors not only the historic monuments but the living traditions of Britain. They would also show them such activities of national life as Ascot and Derby. As' overseas had given a generous help to Britain in her need, so they would give her help and sympathy in her struggle through the fag of domestic, difficulties, in her struggle to discharge Imperial responsibilities. “You will find that at the heart of the Empire the faith of the Empire burns brightly. Tf I may speak for the people of England I would say we welcome von.”

Colonel Woods (Canada) responding said Lord Rosebery's words twentyone years ago. ‘‘Welcome home.” were echoing still. There might be diffeemes in matters of trade tariffs, but he know all would return to their homes as one united, although only by building up the Empire's trade

and commerce as a single entity, would they 'be % able to face the rest of (lie world on an equal basis. Mr Fink said the traditions of Britain inspired the life of the people of Australia and other Dominions. The work of the Umpire Press Union was only now commencing., but a wonderful first chapter had been written. The question now was whether we could retain unity of Empire. The former co’onies were now independent political organisms linked together by one tie and” loyalty to the Sovereign. Material considerations, which were developing might conceivably scatter and part the different parts of the Empire. Independence might mean a divergence of interests, which would dissolve the 'Empire. He viewed with alarm the possible results of autonomy to which they had succeeded. The task of to-day was to -o!vp the problem of keeping together the British Commonwealth of Nations. He had no panacea but it was lor the people of Britain to decide whether adherence to the economic theory was the best way to serve the Empire. All round the world tariff walls were rising and British trade was excluded. Australia and the other Dominions had given Britain preference in national desires and national ambitions .more powerful than economics. The British race was as virile as ever. He felt with goodwill they could solve that problem.