A MISNOMER.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 123, 26 May 1928, Page 9

A MISNOMER.

SIR J. PARR OBJECTS.

" Empire " Not" Commonwealth Of Nations." AFTER DINNER SPEECHES. (Australian Press Assn.—United Service.) LONDON, May 23. At the Empire Day dinner last evening of the Royal Colonial Institute, now the Royal Empire Society, a congratulatory message from King George on the society's attainment of [its 60th anniversary was read.

The Duke of Connaught presided, and he officially announced that the P;ince of Wales and Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester would tour British East Africa next autumn.

The guests included the High Commissioner for New Zealand, Sir James Parr, Sir Joseph Ward, and Sir Thomas Mackenze.

The Duke of Connaught, in toasting the Royal Family, said its members were becoming well-known figures in the Dominions. This was the repeated wish of his mother, Queen Victoria. The Duke of Gloucester was a rare exception, but this he hoped would be merely the beginning of his acquaintance with Empire touring.

In proposing the toast of "United Empire," the Duke referred to the change in the name of the institute to that of Koyal Empire Society. He said the word "colonies" was almost becoming a term of reproach. It was desirable to recognise the status of the Dominions in the change of the name of the institute.

Sir James Parr, in responding, deprecated the use of the terra "Commonwealth of Nations." He said he himself did not fear that the term "Empire" would raise the bogey of militarism. The term "Commonwealth of Nations" did not include India and the non-self-governing Dominions, and for that reason it should be dropped. He predicted that the whole "world would speak English a generation hence.

The Attorney-General, Sir Thomas Inskip, declared himself to be sufficiently old-fashioned to prefer the term "Empire" to the term "Commonwealth of Nations."