“I AM LOYAL," SAYS MR. BLOODWORTH

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 16, 9 April 1927, Page 9

“I AM LOYAL," SAYS MR. BLOODWORTH

SPIRITED ASSURANCE Apparently anticipating some confirmation of the reported intention of the Prince of Wales to visit New Zealand again, as well as the possibility of Mr. T. Bloodworth being the next Mayor of Auckland, a questioner rose to his feet at the Remuera meeting last evening and asked Mr. Bloodworth what his attitude would be. This led to a somewhat spirited and very definite reply from Mr. Bloodworth. He said he rather expected the question when he saw it reported that a union member in Sydney had proposed to bar the Lord Mayor from his union, because the Lord Mayor wore his robes meeting the Duke and Duchess of York. It so happened that the Prime Minister had complimented the Christchurch Labour Mayor on his reception of the Royal visitors. Not that the compliments were necessary. The Rev. J. K. Archer had merely done what a gentleman might be expected to do. “As a matter of fact I had a unique experience when their Royal Highnesses were in Auckland. I was entitled to meet , them twice, and I was the first Labour man, and my wife the first Labour man’s wife, to shake hands with the Duke and Duchess, in the Southern Hemisphere. Because we did as we should have done, nothing was said. Had I made a point of staying away there would have been a hullabaloo. I went because I thought it right. When I was very young I was reared in a very radical family.” A Voice: Where? Mr. Bloodworth: In England. In those days I was, with Sir Joseph Chamberlain and Sir Charles Dilk, both now dead, a republican* There have been many changes since then, and I now say I am absolutely loyal, and a firm believer in this: “That one of the greatest factors for peace and progress in the world to-day is the existence of the British Empire, or the Commonwealth of British nations. One of the most important parts of that Empire and its standing is the Throne of England. (Applause.) “If a member of the Royal family came here I would behave as a man should behave, and pay my tribute to the representative of the family. I would do this believing that the Royal family tends to keep together the British Commonwealth of nations, one of the greatest and most important factors in the peace of the world today. Also, I would act as Auckland would expect its chief citizen to act under the circumstances.” (Applause.)