BANQUET SURPRISE

Hokitika Guardian, 19 November 1930, Page 6

BANQUET SURPRISE

YOUTH WHO BUTTED IN. INCIDENT IN GUILDHALL. There was a surprising incident at the banquet given in the Guildhall, London, recently to the delegates attending the Imperial, Conference. Mr J. H. Thomas, the Secretary of State for the Dominions, had just finished speaking when one of the guests, a pale-faced youth, astonished the assembly by proceeding,to address it “in the name of youth.” There were cries of . “Order’ ’and “Sit down,” and eventually the speaker was removed to an ante-room.

Prince Arthur of Connaught presided at the banquet, which was attended by a distinguished company of statesmen, noblemen, diplomats, ? and representatives of the services.'/)

The youth referred’ to gave hT*s name as Herbert Gervers. He bad succeeded in making his way from a seat 'lip to the dias to a point behind Air Thomas’s chair, and the Dominions Secretary had no sooner sat-down - ’that Gervers began to speak. He -said: “Gentlemen,. 1 am 21; will you hear me ? T have come, through Charterhouse and Cambridge. Solomon once prayed for wisdom, and I pray for wisdom. I am speaking, gentlemen, to help huiriauity. You laugh.” No one laughed, arid the speaker continued : “I believe T have wisdom, and I know what is wrong. I have found out that at heart there is good in everybody, and that what is wrong is lack of understanding. Gentlemen, I have helped to make people understand each other. You will say: Wliat is my object? Did Luther know when he set out that he was going to form a Church ? Did Alexander the Great know when he set out——” Cries of “Order,” “Order.” now began to break out. Air Thomas was looking upward and backward, and was as surprised as anybody in tlie hall. Prince Arthur preserved his calmness, and watched the toastmaster and other officials approach the young man.

His voice < broke forth again—“ Will you hear me/”; (Cries of “Sit down.”) He was led to a door and conducted to an ante-room, where lie was seen by an inspector-of police and others, who remained with hinr for a few minutes.

Seen by a reporter later, Gervers said that lie was not representing any movement. “T am quite by myself, and T was going to ask them to give youth a chance.”

Prince Arthur proposed the toast of “His Alajesty’s Dominions Overseas and Lidia,” and in doing so said that he personally hoped that an expression of the mutual understanding and helpfulness which existed among the people of the British Commonwealth of Nations might he embracing society in London.

He announced that an eminent architect who bad already achieved notable success in South Africa and India had been in consultation with a view to designing a suitable monument in the near future.