EX-LORD MAYOR.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 96, 26 April 1933, Page 5

EX-LORD MAYOR.

VISITOR FROM LONDON IN OFFICE WHEN WAR CAME. STRENUOUS DAYS RECALLED. Sir Vansittart Bowater, M.P. for the City of London, who was Lord Mayor of London when the Great War commenced, arrived by the Wanganella this morning. He is on his way back to England after having made a health trip through India and Australia. He leaves by the Niagara on May 2. Sir Vansittart has vivid recollections of the strenuous days that followed the declaration of war. "I was on holiday in Belgium a few days before hostilities broke out," he said this morning. "I dined at the Palace of the King of the Belgians in Brussels on July 23, 1914, and with a friend left for Germany on July 29. At that time we had no idea whatever that there was to be war. We arrived by motor car at Dieppe on July 30, and the following morning noticed that everybody was leaving the hotel. I asked the porter what was moving, and his reply was, 'You will be as safe here as anywhere else.' This was the first indication we had that anything was wrong, and although my friend was nil for pushing on to the German frontier, where our heavy luggage had gone on ahead, I decided that, as the situation appeared to be serious, it was best to go home. We took in a full tank of petrol and made for Boulogne, to take steamer for Folkestone. When we arrived at Boulogne everything was in a turmoil. Every motor car was commandeered, including that of my friend in which we were travelling. I made representations to the Mayor, and our car was released after a great deal of trouble and as a concession to the Lord Mayor." Shrewd Chauffeur. Sir Vansittart related how the ear was nearly left behind at the last moment, "but that the shrewdness of the chauffeur saved the day. When the car was being snipped a passport was demanded of the owner and the military officials pointed out that the vehicle could not go, as it was not in the name of the Lord Mayor. The chauffeur then told the officials that when the Lord Mayor of London travelled abroad he did so incognito and not under his proper name. "This story was accepted, and the car was duly put on board," added Sir Vansittart with a smile. The ex-Lord Mayor, said that the luggage which had been sent on to the frontier was seized by the Germans, and a claim was made on the insurance company that had issued a policy on it, but after three months it was all returned intact. Momentous Days. "When I got back to London I had a most difficult time," he said, "and I never got my holiday. There was no rest, practically speaking, day or night, the whole of the organisations that carried on through the war period were set up during my term of office. I remember arranging a monster meeting when the then Prime Minister, Mr. Asquith, made his first speech to the people in respect to the war. The Guildhall was packed and there was an overflow meeting outside. The Prince of Wales Fund was established about this time. Its purpose was to provide money for people who would be thrown out of work by the war and something like £7,000,000 was subscribed. It was found, however, that the war created employment and the money was afterwards diverted to other channels. Blankets and Shirts. "Things had to be done in those days that a Lord Mayor had never been called upon to do before. For instance, an appeal was made for blankets and shirts and these had all to be sent to the Mansion House. I will never forget the ceremony 1 conducted of swearing in the City of London Battalion of the 10th Fusiliers. This was done in the moat of the Tower of London. The like had never occurred before and probably never will again. The whole battalion was drawn from the Stock Exchange, Baltic Exchange and Lloyd's, and was one of the best formed during the war. It provided more officers than any other unit. The men marched into the moat, were sworn in and then marched through London." Sir Vansittart said that the position of Lord Mayor was surrounded with much ceremony. The Corporation of London was hundreds of years old — olden than the Mother of Parliaments, which had copied many of its customs and ceremonies, including the use of the Mace. Ancient customs were retained in respect to most official gatherings, including Lord Mayor's banquets. Sir Vansittart said he had made a comprehensive tour of India and Australia and had been warmly welcomed wherever he went. The late Mr. Moss Davis was a personal friend and had told him so much about New Zealand that he had decided to include the Dominion in his itinerary of travel. He was sorry that he would not be able to make a longer stay, but engagements abroad and in England necessitated his departure by the Niagara,