CEREMONIES AT CORONATION

Press, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 26943, 20 January 1953, Page 7

CEREMONIES AT CORONATION

COMMONWEALTH’S PART (Special Correspondent N.Z.P.A.) (Rec 11.45 p.m.) LONDON, Jan. 19. The Queen’s choice of peers to support her with special duties in the Coronation procession has been questioned by two critics, both on the grounds of representation. Mr Emmanuel Shinwell, M.P., speaking at Worcestershire, contended that there was “too much aristocracy” about the appointments, and Mr John Grigg, son of Lord Altricham. editor of the “National and English Review,” in a letter to “The Times,” complained that the Commonwealth had been neglected when the appointments were made. Mr Shin well said the aristocracy was “doomed and almost damned, and called for a more democratic Coronation, with workers taking part. “When I read in the newspapers that the standard-bearers are all from the aristocracy—and particularly from the military—l wonder at it all. When I read that a certain gentleman is to be the principal standard-bearer because long, long ago in the dim and mustv past one of his forbears was the King’s Champion, I wonder.. “When I read that these elderly military gentlemen, most of whom I know, are to be great and illustrious standard bearers, I wonder at it all. We are in a democratic age. We want this age to usher in an era of peace. I hope those in % authority realise that the aristocracy is doomed and almost damned. “What could be more appropriate than that the Queen should be accompanied by her friends, but also by those who represent the scientific world, great and illustrious scientists, those from the medical profession, nurses, miners, farm workers, steel workers and railwaymen. These are the salt of the earth. That indeed would mean a real democratic Coronation.” “Mixture as Before” Mr Grigg said the list of those performing special duties at the Coronation “is a mixture as before.” He added: “About half the individuals concerned are. it is true, of Commonwealth stature, but they are all citizens of one country, and the. criterion of selection seems to have been, as in the past. That of .titular status in the United Kingdom. “It is hard to reconcile this with what we now profess and believe about the nature of our world-wide Commonwealth. One gleaming opportunity for an imaginative change appears to have been missed. Moreover, the failure to move with the times in this respect suggests that there may be a similar feature in other respects., “How will the congregation in the Abbey be made up? Will it once again consist overwhelmingly of United Kingdom delegates, or will the representation of other Commonwealth countries be drastically increased? An ominous silence surrounds this question, and there is reason to fear that the answer if given now would be unsatisfactory. “The Queen’s Coronation cannot be organised as an essentially United Kingdom affair, with the other realms and territories participating on the fringe. Her Majesty’s advisers must avoid this grotesque error, or the Coronation will go down in history as a splendid swan song rather than the inauguration of a new era.” Newspaper Comment

“To match the quickening of Imperial consciousness it can scarcely be denied that Commonwealth countries must be represented in fitting numbers at the Coronation of their Queen,” says a special correspondent of the “Daily Telegraph,” discussing the Commonwealth’s share in the Coronation.

“Already there are signs that the former overwhelming preponderance of United Kingdom citizens at the Abbey ceremony is a thing of the past. What remains' in doubt is the wisest way to reconcile the new claims of the Commonwealth with the established customs of the United Kingdom. “However desirable it may be to make the Coronation as much an Imperial as 3 domestic ceremony, each of the three estates of the realm—the Lords 1 spiritual, the Lords temporal and the people—must be allowed to play their traditional part. At the same time, Commonwealth countries are justified in demanding that they too should witness, even take part in, all the ancient rites. Only one factor should prevent the presence in the Abbey of suitably large delegations from the . Empire—the limitation of space. Yet even this obstacle might yet be overcome. Seating in Abbey “So far the Earl Marshal’s office has remained silent on the exact way the Abbey’s 7600 seats are to be allocated, though it has befen announced that more will be occupied by the Commonwealth than in 1937. Then there were approximately 600 for the Dominions, 200 for India and Burma, and about 200 for the colonies. While the 1937 figures seem certain to be appreciably increased, there is strong reason for hoping that each country’s representation will be equal, rather than proportionate to the size or population of the country. “However important may be the presence of Commonwealth delegations in the Abbey, their participation in the ceremonial should not —and need not—end there. There could be no objection to extending the field from which those participating in the ceremonial usually have been drawn.

“Among suggestions made is one that the Anglican communion overseas might be invited to assist the English clergy. Other Dominion representatives might be asked to join in the ceremony in which the Sovereign receives the homage of her peers. The sight of each delegation from the Dominions and the Colonies dipping the standard in homage would signify to a doubting world that the British Empire is no fossilised footnote to a page of ancient history.”

Aviation Conference.—A New Zealander has been appointed to direct the co-ordination of the work of six technical committees which have been set up by the International Civil Aviation Organisation’s regional conference in Melbourne to give specialised consideration to various aspects of air navigation. He is Mr R. J. Dippy, leader of the New Zealand delegation. —Melbourne, January 19.