NEW ZEALAND DAY

Dominion, Volume 28, Issue 115, 8 February 1935, Page 11

NEW ZEALAND DAY

Distinguished Guests at London Dinner LORD GALWAY PRESENT Reference to Meat Import Restrictions By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright. (Received February 7, 5 p.m.) London, February G. Sir James Parr, presiding at the New Zealand Society’s dinner at the Savoy <?n New Zealand Day, in welcoming Mr. J. 11. Thomas, Dominions Secretary, and Mr. Walter Elliot, Minister of Agriculture, said in reference to the meat negotiations that the latter’s office was one of extreme difficulty and delicacy. No two men iu the Cabinet carried a greater responsibility than Mr. Thomas and Mr. Elliot.

Dominion representatives iu the past year had learned of the gravity of Mr. Elliot’s problem. “I hope,” said Sir James,, “that Mr. Thomas and Mr. Elliot have come to learn that in carrying out a drastic policy against the Dominions they will not only nearly ruin us who are Britain’s best friends and customers, but irretrievably damage the development of the Empire, as the former constitutional links between Britain and the Dominions have all gone, leaving only Kingship as a common bond. A mutually profitable trade between Britain and the Dominions is the best cement to hold our strange commonwealth together. Negotiations are still continuing in the friendliest way.”

Proposing a toast to Lord Galway, the chief guest, Sir James Parr recalled that bis ancestors had served in the House of Commons continuously from 1727 to 1802 and from 1847 to 1885.

Lord Galway, responding, suggested that one way to alleviate the farmer’s difficulties would be to counteract the women’s slimming fashion by persuading them to eat more. He described his recent tour of the battlefields of France, from which he brought striking tributes to the gallantry and devotion of the New Zealand troops, including especially a moving testimony from the Dean and Chapter of Amiens Cathedral,

Lord Hewart, Lord Chief Justice, referring to his marriage with Miss Stewart, claimed himself a New Zealander by adoption. His telegraphic address was now “Wanganui, London.” He had accepted Lord Galway’s invitation to New Zealand next .year.

Mr. Thomas, in a humorous speech, said that it was humbug for Lord Hewart to declare that Lord Galway had invited him to New Zealand, when in fact a visit to New Zealand was a condition of Ills marriage.

Several speakers paid a tribute to Lord Rutherford as New Zealand's greatest son.

The guests included Lords Jellicoe, Rutherford and Liverpool, Admirals Chatfield and Blake, Captain Drummond, the new commander of the New Zealand Division of the Royal Navy, General Montgomery Massingberd, Major-General Freyberg, Sir David Chadwick, Sir Frank Smith and the Bishop of London. The celebration of New Zealand Day included Sir James Parr’s broadcast, a service at St. Lawrence Jewry by the Archbishop of London, and a reception at the Girdlers’ Company hall.