FREEDOM OF CITY

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22774, 7 July 1937, Page 17

FREEDOM OF CITY

CEKEMONY IN LONDON MR. SAVAGE AND MR. LYONS PAGEANTRY AT GUILDHALL [FROM OUH OWN- COItHESI'ONDKNT] LONDON, June 10 In the 500-year-old Guildhall, which still bears the marks of the Great Fire of 1666 011 its grey stone walls, the lit. Hon. M. J. Savage, Prime Minister. of New Zealand, and the IU. Hon. J. A. Lyons, Prime Minister of Australia, had conferred upon them this week the freedom of the City of London. They were presented with two caskets containing the certificates of freedom "in gratitude for services rendered to the Empire and in lasting memorv of the ceremony."

The presentation to Mr. Savage and Mr. Lyons was the occasion of a dignified and solemn ceremony. Although London's streets were gay with midsummer sunshine, the gloom of the ancient hall made necessary the illumination of 14 great lamps, which are suspended from the black, oaken ceiling. Lord Mayor Arrives At the far end of the hall from the dais, Gog and Magog, the wooden giants, gazed sightlessly out ol their darkened corners, and high over the finely carved balcony was seated the band of the Royal Artillery, playing quietly while the first of the guests took their places in the centre of the hall.

At noon, when t lie blue-gowned members of tlie Common Council were seated, the City Lands Committee, in mazarine gowns, filed through a doorway carrying their reception wniicls, and took up their places on either side of the aisle leading to the dais. It was a signal for the entrance of the Lord Mayor. Preceded by the City Marshal, wearing his scarlet jacket, the Sword Bearer, and the Mace Hearer, the Lord Mayor, in his black and golden gown, took up his position 011 the dais. Distinguished Guests For 20 minutes the Lord Mayor greeted the more distinguished guests and alderlnen. Among the first to be received were Mr. and Mrs. Nash, who came with a number of New Zealanders to see their countryman honoured. There followed three British Cabinet Ministers —Mr. Malcolm MacDonald, Dominion Affairs, Mr. hi Brown, Labour, and Dr. L. Burgin, Transport. Then came Mr. Ramsay Mac Donald and Miss lshbel Mac Donald, Mr. Mackenzie King, Prime Minister of Canada, Mr. S. M. Bruce, High Commissioner for Australia, Mr. and Mrs. W. J. Jordan, and Air ViceMarshal Sir Philip Game. ( Representatives of the Army ' and Navy, of the legal profession, of the Livery Companies, of the London County Council, and of Australia and New Zealand were also received. The Common Councillors greeted the new arrivals by clapping their white-gloved hands: An Awkward Moment Then, unannounced and walking quickly, came Mr. Savage, accompanied by Miss Sheila Lyons, and immediately behind them Mr. Lyons and his wife, Dame Enid Lyons. As they ascended the dais the Guildhall echoed the loud and sustained applause. The ceremony of presentation commenced and there came an awkward moment when, by an oversight, Mr. Savage was referred to as the Prime Minister of Canada, an error corrected by the Common Councillois murmuring a full-throated "New Zealand." The oath of freedom was then taken by the Prime Ministers and perpetuated in writing. Mr. Savage's address in acknowledgment concluded with "a thousand thanks for the great privilege that has been bestowed upon New Zealand tlirough mo, her representative, todav."