PREMIERS ENTERTAINED.

Taranaki Daily News, 4 July 1921, Page 8

PREMIERS ENTERTAINED.

PRINCE OF WALES PRESENT. A ROUSING WELCOME. By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright. London, July 1. A most brilliant assemblage attended the dinner to the Prime Ministers at the Royal Colonial Institute. The Duke of Connaught presided. The Prince of Wales had a tremendous reception, and “For he’s a jolly good fellow” was vociferously rendered. Th© Prince proposed (the toast of “United Empire.” He made the most cordial references to the wonderful months of the Dominions’ tour. He especially appealed for support for the Empire Exhibition in 1923, including the great sports programmes. He expressed good wishes for the success of the conference and stressed the enormous distances travelled by Messrs. Hughes and Massey as an example of the need of improved inter-Empi.re communication. He hoped- Mr. Hughes would fly to the next conference.

Mr. Htfghes, replying, said it was an astonishing fact that in an Empire full of contradictions, inconsistencies, and the fiercest democracy, to which the trappings and ceremonies of royalty were repugnant, there was found an expression of loyalty to the binding tie of the Crown in the King’s son, who was everywhere hailed as a sportsman and a jolly good fellow. On the question of flying to the conference he admitted that, while he was a disciple of speed in every form, he recalled his attempt to fly from Paris to London. .He cam© down within an hour, finished fifteen miles from the start, and ordered a wheelbarrow as the speediest means of transport. Nevertheless, he agreed with the Prince that there was urgent need to speed up communications.