ROYAL EMPIRE SOCIETY.

Press, Volume LXV, Issue 19669, 12 July 1929, Page 3

ROYAL EMPIRE SOCIETY.

EMPIRE DAY DINNER. PRINCE GEORGE'S SURVEY. (jrjtoil OVB, own COnRZSPONDBKI.) ; LONDON, May 28. Prince George was the principal guest at the Empire Day dinner of the Royal Empire Society (formerly the Royal Colonial Institute )- When the Duke of Connaught presided. The dinner was held tliis year at the Hotel Victoria, about 300 people being present. The guests included Earl and Countess Jellicoe, FieldMarshal Viscount Allenby, Sir Harry Battersbee, Sir Edward Croe (Comp-troller-General of the Department of Overseas Trade), Sir Edward and the Hon. Lady Grigg, the Earl of Meath, Field-Marshal Viscount Plumer, Sir Granville Ryrie, Mr C. Howard Tripp, Mr J. Mowbray Howard Tripp, Mrs Mowbray Howard Tripp, ■ Mr • A. A. Rattray, Mrs E. A. Hernibrook, Sir Charles and Lady Holdsworth, Mr Godfrey and the Hon. Mrs Godfrey Holdsworth, Major E. A. and Mrs Belcher, and Mr M. C. Barnett. -Empire Day.messages were sent from ten branches of the Society. From Gisborne branch the following cablegram was received: "Greetings Gisborne Fellows best wishes happy evening. May peace, felicity and prosperity prevail throughout beneficent Empire."— Kirk. Canterbury branch sent the following: "Canterbury branch sends cordial . greetings wishing parent Society con- . tinued progress and prosperity in worldwide activities." Royal Family. The president (the Duke of Connaught), in proposing the toast of "The Qtfeen, the Prince of Wales, and the other members of the Royal Family," said that they were happy to have as their principal guest Prince ■ George, whom they, welcomed most warmly. Last year they had the Duke of Gloucester there, and now that Prince George had accepted the Honorary Fellowship all the King's sons were Fellows of the Society. (Cheers,) Prince George, in responding, said that such a gathering as this was a testimony to the courage and endurance of- the men who devoted their lives to building up the British Em-pire—and--it had been made possible by the spirit of adventure, and enterprise, which was imbued in our ancestors. It was to the great and expansive Elizabethan age, when Britain was "awaking to the meaning of sea-power, that we; must look, in order to realise the enthusiastic faith that caused the 'Jtea-dog's- of Devon," and. other parts of Great Britain, to venture across the sea. But'the pioneers, with whom todav we were more intimately concerned!' were those, who had established and developed our great overseas Dominions, who had helped to build up our great tropical Dependencies in

Africa and the East, and who had so truly, laid the firm foundations on .which the . Empire stands to-day. (Oh^erfe.) The Maoris. The Prince went on to refer to various parts'of the Empire. ''The early settlers in New Zealand," ho said r "had +heir difficulties and were strongly opposed by the Maoris, A virile and able native race, who at first did not take kindly to their intrusion. But their confidence having onee been gained, the spirit of co-operation prevailed,' and to-day this forms a striking example of the possibility of enlisting the help of a native race in the administration and development of a new territory. "I have endeavoured briefly to mention the work of achievement of British pioneers of which we have every cause to be proud. It is difficult to summarise it in a short speech, and there are numerous other parts of the Empire which, could be mentioned as testimonies of our adaptability, both in the settlement of new territories and in the administration of natives. But it is sufficient, I think, to say that this gift, which is inspired by the past achievements of our great pioneers, is fortunately inherent in our race to-day, since there is still much to be done, and it is this aspecf with which we are now more particularly concerned. Each migrant, no matter what may be his reason for. leaving these shares, • carries with him the torch of our national civilisation and culture, and the continued migration of men and. women of our race is desirable if the development of our open spaces is to be carried on successfully." (Hear, hear.) Cause of United Empire. Sir Edward Grigg, Governor of Kenya Colony, who proposed "Prosperity to the Koyal Empire Society," paid a warm tribute to the splendid Empire work of the late Earl of Eoseberry, whose name, he hoped, would always be associated with the great Empire growing up in East Africa. The Duke of Connaught, responding, said the one great object of the society was to help to promote harI mony, unity, and affection between all parts of the Empire. "We are all the i subjects of one Sovereign," he added. ; "It is in the Throne of this country that the centre of gravity exists, and long may it remain so." (Cheers.) The Eoval Empire Society, which had now a membership of nearly 17,000, embodied the spirit of the new era. Steps had been taken to make a beginning with the new buildings of the society, which would afford for Do- ! minion visitors all the facilities of a club. The society had a great past,., and the council were determined that its future should, be worthy of the Royal Colonial Institute's sixty years of'fine service in the cause of "United Empire." (Cheers.)