ELOQUENT TRIBUTES LIFE OF SERVICE

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 20, 24 January 1936, Page 7

ELOQUENT TRIBUTES LIFE OF SERVICE

COMMONS SPEECHES. Throne Built on Foundation Of the People's Hearts. CONFIDENCE IN THE FUTURE, United Press Association.—Copyright. (Received 12.30 p.m.) LOXDOX, January 23. Proceedings in the House of Commons to-day began with Mr. Baldwin handing in the following message from the King:— Edward R.I. "I am well assured that the House of Commons deeply mourns the death of my beloved father. He devoted his life to the service of his people upholding constitutional Government. He was ever actuated by a profound sense of duty. lam resolved to follow the way he set before me." Mr. Baldwin, amid subdued cheers, moved two motions conveying to the King the House's deep sympathy in his grievous aflliction by his late Majesty's death and graterul remembrance of his unselfish public service for the welfare of the people, also further expressing to the King the loyal devotion and firm conviction that under Divine Providence, he will, throughout his reign, promote happiness and protect the liberties of the people. The second motion was of condolence with the Queen, assuring her that the House shares her sorrow in the irreparable loss which the nation has sustained and that all members will ever hold in their hearts towards Her Majesty the deepest feeling of reverence and affection. Mr. Baldwin said that the temporal powers of the Crown had diminished through the ages, yet to-day the spiritual power of the Crown was not only far greater than ever but was greater than any man in his visions or dreams could have foreseen. "It holds together the whole Empire of English-speaking people. It is, I believe, an indissoluble link which is due to the character of those who have held the Throne in the last 100 years, Victoria, Edward and George. Not the Power of Force. "The power of the Crown to-day is not the power of force, it is a great moral power which must depend on the character and quality of him who sits on the Throne. Important as we may think ourselves in our generation who wrestle with the political problems of the country and act as the King's advisers, we ar<| but ephemeral compared with the Mona\h. "It was in reign of King George that the and swiftest changes occurred. He nit the challenge of time without flushing and triumphed at a time when -a slip of speech or action might have wrought irreparable damage. He never considered his own ease or leisure. By some indefinable and intangible wave of sympathy and understanding he conveyed his personality to everyone of his subjects, not only at home, but throughout the world. "We have no memory of him but at his best and his best was something very high. He fell asleep at peace with all the world Queen's Rich Companionship. "There is no need to dwell on how His Majesty's power of influence for* good was enhanced in a million ways by the rich companionship of the Queen. I would merely assure the Queen that the whole country feels ror her something far removed from conventional grief. "But our thoughts must turn to the future. AVe offer congratulations to our new King. Ko two Sovereigns in the long gallery of ancestors have served their people in an identical fashion. The three past Sovereigns were widely divergent in tlieir gifts. "Edward VIII., in turn, brings to the same altar a personality richly endowed with experience of public affairs, of the fruits of travel and of universal good will. The Secret of Youth. "He lias the secret of youth in the prime of his age. He has a wider and more intimate knowledge of all classes of liis subjects, not only at home, but throughout the Dominions and India, than any of his predecessors. We cannot foresee what paths the course of Empire or history may take, but our ancient Constitution has shown itself in the words of his father, adaptable to change.

"That virtue has not left us, and while we remain true to our inheritance anc our character it never will. It is now in a special and unique sense, in tht | keeping of the young King whom we have sworn to cherish." '• Mr. Baldwin concluded: "Inspired by these memories and endowed as he is, we look forward with confidence and assurance to the new reign, believing that under God's providence he will establish a Throne more firmly than ever on the present and only foundations, the hearts of the people." Major Attlee said: "There is no divi- _ sion. We are all united in sorrow at the loss of our great and well-beloved Sovereign. We all feel we have lost a friend. The Democratic King. "King George reigned through a period 3. of transition. The old world passed away and a new one was born. Thrones have been overthrown because the occupants stubbornly set themselves against the march of events, but the late King succecded where others failed because he was a democrat. "He was the supreme exponent of the difficult art of constitutional kingship, j Instances are to be found in his acceptancc of limitation of the powers of the n Upper House and the attainment of ■ e office by a new party, the members of which were drawn predominantly from manual workers. "He agreed to a series of Acts whereby the Dominions attained equality with the Mother Country and India was set on the road to self-govern-ment. He allowed nominal sovereignty to be apparently diminished, but by doing so he established his real sovereignty in the hearts of the people of the Empire." (Cheers.) "The country has not seen the movements of massed hysteria witnessed I, elsewhere and one reason was the prese ence of the King, who commanded the s respect and affection of his people and s was beyond the spirit of. a faction, s There was no need to elevate a hero e because the King was there to express 0 a hero to his people. (Cheers.) n "The King felt the tragedy of unemployment deeply and the new King lias e shown the same sympathy for all * classes." Sir Archibald Sinclair, associating the B Liberals, said that during a period in e which all institutions in the country ■ had been subjected to rapid change, 1 trials and stresses, King George had 1 strengthened his hold upon the imagina--5 tion of the peoples of the Common- * wealth. Referring to King Edward, Sir Archi--1 bald said that perhaps never in British I history had a Prince ascended the 1 Throne so fully equipped. He both commended and constantly practised t_lic i ideals of social service and fellowship. ' The motions were carried.