A LITTLE NATION WITH GREAT HEART

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 75, 20 June 1927, Page 12

A LITTLE NATION WITH GREAT HEART

TRIBUTE TO NEW ZEALAND MANY CELEBRITIES GUESTS AT DINNER IN LONDON By Cable. — J*ress Association. —Copyright LONDON, Friday. There were 400 enthusiastic guests at the New Zealand annual dinner held at the Mayfair Hotel. Sir James Parr presided, and Mr. L. C. Amery, Secretary of State for Dominions, was the chief guest Other guests were Lord Jellicoe, brilliantly be-medalled, Sir Joseph Cook, Australian High Commissioner, Sir James Mills, Lord Islington, Mr. Douglas Hay, manager of the New Zealand cricket team, the Bishop of London, the Earl of Liverpool, the Hon. J. Huxham, Mr. Robert Bell, Mr. P. A. Brett, ’ Admiral Beal, Generals Chaytor and Furse, Mr. Peter Larkin, Mr. Hyland, and many shipping, banking and produce representatives. Lord Vestey drew up the menu, which was characteristic of the country, including toheroa soup and rainbow trout sent by the Prime Minister, Mr. Coates, at the request of Sir James Parr, Canterbury lamb, and passion fruit ice. A sensation was created by the appearance of an ice image of a kiwi, with floral decorations, which included pohutakawa, native ferns, flax, rimu saplings and nikau palm. The chairman bade Mr. Amery godspeed on his Dominions’ visit and invited him to essay the climb of Mount Cook. He said that Mr. Amery’s legal and journalistic training, fortified by a military and political career, enabled him soundly to appreciate the Dominion temperament. Only good could result from the visit of a statesman of such calibre, and others should follow his example. Mr. Amery, who rose amid cheers and cries of “Kia Ora,” said that an artist in Ice last year, thought that the New Zealand dinner would be flattered by an ice kangaroo, but tonight’s artist was on safer ground with the kiwi. The Imperial Conference had demonstrated that the Empire was not an administration governed from one centre, but a commonwealth under a common Crown. In the intervals between the conference it was desirable that British Ministers should go out and get the personal touch with their overseas colleagues. This was particularly applicable to the Dominions Secretary, and for that reason he pleasurably anticipated a visit to New Zealand. He recalled his visit there in 1913 and hoped to extend his mountaineering exploits, which were then confined to Mount Eden. He hoped to meet his colleagues who were building up New Zealand, which is 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 that victory was near. New Zealand’s Samoan administration was a true exemplification of the mandate. The Bishop of London said that it was one of the cheeriest dinners he had ever attended, and he hoped to make all the other visitors go to New Zealand.

He referred to the glorious, warm-hearted welcome he had received, especially at Christchurch, from the Mayor, who was a Baptist minister, a Labour member, and a jolly good fellow. Bishop Winnington-lngram said he never felt more at home than in New Zealand, whose archbishops and bishops were the finest he had met travelling round the, world. It had been reported, he said, in a letter to “The Times,” that after seeing the Governor-General, the Prime Minister and the Labour Party in New Zealand, he had formed the opinion that only 10,000 people could go to New Zealand. He wished to make it clear that the Governor-General never said anything about migration. The Hon. W. Pember Reeves, in proposing the toast of “The Visitors,” pointed to Mr. Hay, who was sitting opposite Lord Jellicoe, and suggested that if Lowry wanted help, he should send out an S.O.S. for Lord Jellicoer who was a notable batsman. The Bishop of London was a fisherman, and therefore should have enjoyed the notable trout fishing in New Zealand. Mr. Amery’s New Zealand visit should increase his eloquence. He paid a tribute to Sir Joseph Cook, and to Colonel Gray, as the Antipodean Adam, who had tempted the British Eve with New Zealand apples. —A. and N.Z.