KING WELCOMES MINISTERS

Press, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22111, 5 June 1937, Page 16

KING WELCOMES MINISTERS

—■—* " HISTORIC EMPIRE gathering impressive scenes IN WESTMINSTER HALL BIRTH-PLACE of parliamentary government (raou ot* owif coheespokOTWT.l LONDON, May 8. In the historic Westminster Hall, li“ S. »“"v past the spot where Kmg g ay in state, His Majesty Kmg George VI sat down to luncheon five days before his Coronation with the Prime Ministers of England and the ions and the most representative gathering of British and Empire statesmen ever to congregate within the walls of the ancient building. It was an impressive, dignified occasion. In the body of the hall, where Kmg Charles I stood his trial, were seated Empire parliamentarians their friends, guests of the Empire Parliamentary Association. At a long table raised above the floor level sat the * " Qn his left and right were Mi Stanley Baldwin and Dominion Prime Ministers, the United Kingdom Cabinet Ministers, Indian famous men. A red rp ... the steps blhind them, and to front it led down an aisle to the north door. At the side of the hall, oq the Kmg s lelt. stood picked flowers-were seen m all part ° f A h fanfare °sounded by three silver sented to him. Then, accompanied by the Lord Chancellor, Viscount Ha sham, and the i Speaker.of the i House of Commons, Captain the Rt. non. a. °l |SS». the King slowly descended the carpeted steps as ?n orchestra nlaved the National Anthem. Gra ?vas said by the Archbishop of Canterbury.

New Zealand Guests Mr M. J. Savage, the Prime Minister of New Zealand, was seated sixth on ,the King’s right hand, .between the of Norfolk— premier duke ot England—and Mr C. R. Attlee, Leader of the Opp6sition of the United Kingdom Other New Zealanders present included Mr W. Nash Minister for Finance, Mr W. J. Jordan, High Com missioned Mr E. J. Howard, M.P., Mr ?hram^ r °MP Ot, M“ J. ££T»ir I Ji W“inson MP Mr J. C. Rolleston, and Mr E. T. Tirika fpnp M.P. The health of His Majesty was pronrrspd bv the Lord Chancellor. We are met.” he said, "as representatives of the free Parliaments of the Empire in Westminster Hall, the scene of Simon de Montfort’s first Parliament and, therefore, the birth-place of our parliamentary system. For many years it was the home of British justice and the King’s courts. For centuries, ever since the reign of Henry I, it has been the traditional scene of the Coronation banquet. In those early days, the King, who wielded arbitrary power, was wont to summon the chief men through whom he ruled some 4,000,000 Pe,< ?To-day, this Coronation luncheon is attended by representatives not of 4000,000, but of 400,000.000 subjects. We ate not summoned here by His Majesty to do his bidding, but we are freely chosen by elected men, the representatives of the self-governing Parliaments of the Empire. . “In the slow process of the centuries the Throne has become not a symbol of arbitrary power but the embodiment of our liberties and the connecting link of the free Commonwealths of the Empire. In this hall, the cradle of the parliamentary system, the home of justice the scene of many brilliant gatherings I doubt whether a more representative gathering has ever assembled than that met to-day. I express the fervent hope of every member of the assembly that Your Majesty will enjoy a long, happy, prosperous, and peaceful reign.” The King Replies Cheers and a storm of hand clapping greeted the King as he rose to reply. Speaking at first with some hesitation, and pausing periodically, the King replied: . , . “I thank you very sincerely. ... It is a great pleasure to me to be the guest of the United Kingdom branch of the Empire Parliamentary Association. It also gives me an early opportunity, which I am very pleased to have, of giving a word of welcoipe to my Prime Ministers and other Ministers from overseas, as well as so many representatives of the several Parliaments of the Empire. “This is an historic occasion. It is the first time that the Sovereign has been present at a luncheon in Westminster Hall to meet those who represent the Parliaments of the Empire. What worthier setting could be imagined than this ancient hall, which has been at once the scene and the silent witness of so many of the stirring events in the history of the Parliament of this country? In this place has grown up the principles which form the bulwark of the system known to us as parliamentary government, and those principles have been carried by our people to the ends of the earth, and they are now the heritage and the pride of all parts of the British Commonwealth of Nations. “I offer you my best wishes for the success of your deliberations. I hope you will all gain strength and help from meeting one another and that your stay in this country will be a very happy one.” The thanks of the members of the Empire Parliamentary Association for His Majesty’s speech were expressed by the Speaker of the House of Commons of the United Kingdom, and by the Speaker of the House of Commons of Canada (the Hon. P. F. Casgrain). “1 doubt whether there is anywhere in the world one building so consecutively and intimately associated over a long term of years with the life and history of a nation as is Westminster Hall with the British people,” said Captain Fitzroy. “For more than 600 years these walls have seen one historic event after another. Some of them have been glorious scenes, some of them happy and bright, some have been pathetic, some have been extremely sad. But I declare there has been none more symbolical of our Imperial progress than the one now taking place. “Head of a Family” “Historic occasions have been numerous, but hitherto on the occasion of Coronation celebrations when kings « Y? their people in Westminster Hall they have been almost entirely confined to persons within this island. To-day, Your Majesty, you have come on the eve of your Coronation, not only as our King and Emperor, but also a»

the head of a family. Your ptmm demonstrates more clearly thah I that ybur heart beats as one twttfe people* over whom you rule. We Jaw the utmost confidence in the fiifcDPfe® your reign. .... .. _ “These nations which form the fee* pire all have Parliaments of tWf own, some older than others, btttro democratic assemblies. Here io fiUl hall, at the very centre of the EOT* we are in the precincts of the Motte of Parliaments, oldest of them tf., Every one has been framed t® pp model of the British Parhsmratjijjr I, therefore, as Speaker of the House of Commons, say that we took you for your presence, and that tit offer you our loyalty OT our heartfelt wishes for the haMMI of yourself and of your g&ldMl Queen. We give you our pra)MH|' hope that you may be spared, in ft* words of our National Anthem, 3od| to reign over us.’” -- After the luncheon, the King vautd slowly down the long aisle to » north door, through the assembly. Idlowed by the Empire statesmen mm had been seated at his table .A? m reached the door the National Amoem was played again, and its notes still echoing round the ancient MOT rafters as he left the hall.

A Bale Broken Lord Hailsham’s speech, when J* proposed the King’s health, brake ■* well-known rule that the toast IBttl not be made the occasion for an «» dress. After he had said a few wot one or two of the guests sitting in W body of the hall half rose to their Its holding their glasses. Lord HaUahta waved them down. Then, _ fesl&f that some explanation mlgnt to needed, he said, “Normally, this OTt* carries its own commendation. But we are to have the great privilege ■« a responso faom His Majesty m person, and for that reason I am Pp mitted to say a few words m prop* m Westminster Hall in Its 900 year** history has not solved the problem** cloakrooms. Although the hinchem was over in an hour and a quarter* took another half-hour before the lad of the guests had managed to forge > way into the congested cloakroom, retrieve top hats and coats, and get cm again. But then, as a distinguished Australian statesman remarked to » English Cabinet Minister, they dm rug have toppers in Simon de MomfflOT time.