BRITISH EMPIRE CLUB.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 20022, 2 September 1930, Page 12

BRITISH EMPIRE CLUB.

NEW ZEALAND MEMBERS' LUNCHEON. gift of sports trophies. (HlOil OUfl OA* COBRiSPOSDBNT.) LONDON, July 11. A very happy party of New Zealanders who are members of the British Empire Club entertained at luncheon a number of other members at the Club House, St. James's Square, yesterday. When Mr M. C. Barnett arrived in London a year or bo ago he was so pleased with the hospitality of the British Empire Club that ho considered New Zealand should be represented among the sporting trophies on the walls of the club house. The only representation was a flag presented by Mr W. P. Massey, Arrangements were made to present the club with a large trout, a swordfish head, and a stag's head. Sir James Parr presented the trout a few months ago. Yesterday the other trophies, which had come to hand, were presented by Sir Thomas Wilford. Both trophies arc very fine specimens. The purpose of New Zealanders present, said the High Commissioner, was to express their appreciation of the wonderful facilities for friendship and strengthening the bonds of Empire which the club provided. There was a fellowship, a brotherhood, and a fine feeling of camaraderie which any New Zealander felt immediately ho visited the club. A story was current of a New Zealander who went into a London club and saw an old man apparently asleep in a chair. He asked the waiter whether the mau was ill. "Oh, no," said the waiter, "he's been dead two days, and it is nobody's business to interfere with him."

Every nation in the world was represented in England, said Sir Thomas. There was free trade in internationalism and a man had to be on his guard as to tho people he met. But the Englishman was the most hospitable person in the world if you were introduced by the right party. Although he had the particular characteristic of reserve, ho not only loved and spoke of the Empiro with his lips, but with his life. Talk of Empire. "To-day, for some reason or other," said Sir Thomas looking at Sir James Parr, "there is more talk of Empire than ever before. I can have no opinion because the subject has been made a political one. But I may be allowed to say that nothing is more unfortunate than that such a movement should be political. Until my Government makes a pronouncement regarding the matter I have nothing to say at all." Sir Thomas amused his audience with an explanation of how he evaded the eight reporters who interviewed him for three-quarters of an hour when he first took up his position of High Commissioner. Next day, he said, there was nothing in the papers about the intervicw. In wishing Kia Ora to the Club, Sir Thomas said that it was a beautiful Maori word expressing good fellowship and good luck, but they used it in this country for the name of a lemon squash. Major J. Macdonald, in thanking the Kew Zealand members for their gift, said it was the ambition of members to make the club a homo for men from every part of the Empire. They regarded New Zealanders as their vory bost friends. They had at all times played their part not only in the interest of the club, but in a healthy admiration of its Imperial principles. Mr S. G. Raymond proposed the health of Lord Liverpool. It was 90 years since New Zealand obtained her sovereignty, he said, and during that long period they had had a succession of Governors who had done honour to New Zealand and honour to their appointments. Moreover, New Zealanders had had no reason to regret the stand they had taken up of leaving the _ appointment of the Governor entirely and unreservedly in the hands of tho British Grown.

Lord Liverpool, in replying, said how much he and Lady Liverpool had enjoyed their recent visit to New Zealand, and how kind everybody was. He hoped that the infirmities of years would not prevent him- from rc-visiting the country. In proposing the toast of Mr M. C. Barnett, Sir James Parr said that though the gifts made to the club were little things, such little things indicated the deep affection every New Zealander had for the Motherland. The little things went to build up goodwill, and goodwill was the best asset they had in this old land. Mr Barnett, in replying, referred with enthusiasm to tho work of the club and to tho facilities it afforded for meeting the most interesting men from every part of the Empire. The following were present in addition to those whose names have already been mentioned: —Sir James Mills, Sir Charles Holdsworth, Professor A. H. Tocker, Col. T. A. Hunter, Major T. M. Wilkes, Col. E. Murray, Capt. D. Simson, Kev. A. K. Young, Dr. L. Gabriel, Capt. E. Leckie, Major Duclos; Messrs. H. H. Harper, J. E. Evans-Jackson, T. Thatcher, W. L. James, E. S. Forsyth, J. Finlay, W. Gregory, C. S. Pannell, Godfrey Holdsworth, T. B. Ching, A. Crabb, W. M. Johnston, J. Maling, J. B. Johnstone, G. C. Fache, E. J. Hyams, Walter Young, L. Donne, F. Lloyd, L. Harris,- C. J. Wray, C. Knowles, H. T. B. Drew, H. E. Davis and S. Perkins.