OFFICIAL RECEPTION.

Auckland Star, Volume LVIII, Issue 108, 10 May 1927, Page 7

OFFICIAL RECEPTION.

Overseas Delegates Convey Their Messages.. AUSTRALIA'S PRIDE. (Received 12 noon.) SYDNEY, this day. A reception was tendered by members of the Federal Cabinet to overseas representatives at Parliament House. Mr. S. M. Bruce, welcoming the delegates, expressed the great pride which Australia felt in that day's historic inaugural ceremony and their greater sense of nationhood to which much had been added by the presence of distinguished representatives from Canada, New Zealand, South Africa and India. Their presence was yet another striking manifestation of the unity which bound the Empire together. "Our nationhood," continued Mr. Bruce, "has been recognised by the great Powers of the world from the most of whom we have received messages expressive of their goodwill, but the messages that please us most were those from sister Dominions and the Mother Country." Overseas representatives, in felicitous speeches, acknowledged the welcome which was accorded them and on behalf of their countries expressed goodwill to the Commonwealth. Mr. McLeod, on behalf of New Zealand, read a message from Mr. J. G. Coates, and added that as a member of the New Zealand Government he had great pleasure in affirming the sentiments in Mr. Coates , message. Geographically the countries were separated by the wide and often turbulent waters of the Tasman Sea, he said, but nationally they were linked together in that close union which sprang from a common heritage of one Motherhind, one King and one flag. In addition to these there was a bond of union arising from the glorious sacrifices of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps now immortalised in the second name of Anzac.