THE FREEDOM OF LONDON

Taranaki Daily News, 22 November 1926, Page 9

THE FREEDOM OF LONDON

PICTURESQUE CEREMONY HONOURS for premiers CO-OPERATORS IN EMPIRE By Telegraph—Press Asm. —Copyright. London, Nov. 19. The customary pageantry attended the conferring of the freedom of London, at the Guild! all, on Messrs. Coates, Hertzog and Monroe. The guests included the Duke and Duchess of Y’ork, Prince Arthur of Connaught', Mr. Amery, the High Commissioners, the Agcnts-General, and members of the conference. The City Land Committee received the Prime Ministers at the porch and conducted them, preceded by the City Marshall, Under-Sheriffs, Town Clerk and Aiderman, and escorted by the sword-bearer and mace-bearer, to the dais, where the Lord Mayor, Sir Rowland Blades, and the Sheriffs welcomed them, after which a charming little girl presented the most prominent ladies with bouquets of roses. The Town Clerk, gowned and bewigged, read the order of the Common Council directing the presentation of the freedom in a gold box to the recipients. Received Nov. 21, 5.5 p.m. London, Nov. 20. The ex-purgator’s declaration accompanying the presentation was thus worded: "They are men- of good name and fame, they do not desire the freedom of the city to defraud the King or the city of any rights and privileges. They will pay their cot and bear their lot so they all say.” The City Chamberlain, from the lectern in front of the dias, in admitting the Prime Ministers to the freedom of the city, said that each had visited the Imperial Conference in an endeavour to surmount the difficulties of distance and climate, to facilitate inter-communication, inter-trade, and to promote the interests of the Empire. He paid a tribute to the late Mr. W. F. Massey, whose disciple and close friend Mr. Coates was. Mr. Coates' soldiery bearing hardly suggested that he was a farmer, but might fortune always attend his patriotic efforts on behalf of the Dominion and the Empire. CINDERELLA O? EMPIRE. Next addressing General Hertzog he referred to him as “a gallant General representing the Cinderella of the Empire, whom we remember as a brave and capable foe. Public leaders are more subject to criticism and misrepresentation than humbler folk and it inay be that General Hertzog has had more than his fair share, but he is an old soldier who has learned to take the rough with the smooth. We pay tribute to his culture, courage, conviction and consistency.” "Mr. Monroe is an Irishman by birth and adoption because he was born at Dublin. He enjoys the distinction of not entering Parliament till he went there as Prime Minister. It is on such men as our guests that we rely to maintain the stability of the Empire, and we greet them as citizens of London.” The Lord Mayor then presented thecaskets containing the freedoms. Mr. Coates, responding from the lectern beside the Chamberlains, said that all New Zealanders shared in the honour conferred on him. Sir Rowland Blades, the Lord Mayor, would soon be wishing God speed to the Duke and Duchess of York, to the heartiness and sincerity of whose welcome Mr. Coates warmly testified. He added: "It is most important that Home statesmen, responsible officers and commercial heads of financial and industrial institutions should also visit the Dominions, thus ensuring a better understanding of Imperial problems.” He paid a tribute to Britain’s patient progress since the war, but said that patience did not mean muddling. General Hertzog who, like Mr, Coates, greeted his hearers as “Fellow Citizens,” acknowledged the honour extended to his fatherland, which must be held dear and sacred by its son. “It is,” he said, “an additional inspiration to us so to act as to be worthy of our country. I offer you, as a friend, and as a sincere cooperator in the great task before us as members of the British Commonwealth, my heartfelt thanks.” j> Mr. Monroe acknowledged the honour on behalf of the oldest, smallest, nearest, but not the least affectionate daughter of the Mother Country. The lesson of the conference,” he said, "is the sympathetic understanding of the Dominions with the British Government, to whom wc, in Newfoundland, give a blank cheque to fill in „s they will.” Following the conferring of the freedoms, the Lord Mayor and Lady Mayoress entertained a representative assemblage at luncheon at the Mansion House to meet Messrs Coates, Hertzog and Monroe. The Lord Mayor's chaplain, the Rev. W. P. Begley, who said grace, was formerly a master at Wanganui College. The Lord Mayor, Sir Rowland Blades, emphasised the anticipatory interest in the tour of the Duke and Duchess of York, and referred to the appropriateness of the presence of Prince and Princess Arthur of Connaught, since he was a former Governor-General of South Africa. In proposing the health of the new freemen, the Lord Mayor said; “Five Premiers who are present have now entered London’s roll of fame. Their predecessors include Messrs Hughes, Deakin and Massey.” The City of London, he added, offered to the South African Government President Kruger’s travelling waggon, which Lord Kitchener gave to Lord Bearsted, who gave it to the City of London. Mr. Coates, in responding, pointed out that London made the earliest attempt to colonise New Zealand, “which is one of the world’s greatest monuments to British colonisation. We hope,” he added, “we can look after the Duke and Duchess of York when they come to us.” General Hertzog said: “I thank you, especially on behalf of the old Transvaal, for the gracious act of-restoring to that old Republic the travelling waggon of their old President, whose memory is now cherished. (Here General Hertzog’s voice almost broke.) "That act of friendship and goodwill will be deeply appreciated for the motives inspiring it. The waggon will return to its old home, •moving that though Britain was victorious in the war she was defeated by friendship. I don’t know whether Britain m South Africa deserves the greater honour. Let us divide It equally. We deeply appreciate Britain's assistance in endeavouring to settle our relations with her on a firm basis. Our endeavours hare been to build up and not to destroy. I shall leave London with the heartfelt

feeling that our achievements will prove a lasting success and a lasting lesson to us all. South Africa will not be the last in steadfast co-operation with the other parts of the Empire.”