FAREWELL TO SIR JAMES ALLEN

Evening Post, Volume 137, Issue CXI, 10 June 1926, Page 9

FAREWELL TO SIR JAMES ALLEN

DUKE OF YORK'S TRIBUTE

SPEECHES BY MEN OF THE TIME.

(United Presn Association.—Copyright.) (Australian-New Zealand Cable Aasn.) LONDON, Bth June.

The New Zealand dinner was in the nature of a farewell to Sir James Allen, who presided. The Duke of York was tho chief guest. Those present included Earl JelHcoe, Mr. Amery (Secretary of State for the Dominions), Viscount Allenby, Lord Eanfurly, Sir Francis Bell, Sir James Parr, Mr. Bryer-Porter, Sir Gordon Campbell, j General Sir Edward Chaytor, Sir Howard D'Egville, General Sir William , Furse, General Sir Alexander Godley, General Sir lan Hamilton, Sir Thomas Mackenzie, Sir William Mercer, Sir James Mills, Sir Francis Newton, Sir Thomas Parkinson, General Sir Fabian Ware, Mr. W. Pember Reeves, and Archbishop Julius.. The menu included toheroa coup and New Zealand trout and passion fruit. I Sir James Allen read Mr. Coates's message expressing New Zealand's determination to foster Empire unity, after which he said he wished to extend to the Duke and Duchess of York the heartiest invitation to visit New Zealand, assuring them of the warmest reception. If the little princess accompanied them she would be welcomed not only by the British, but by the Maoris, who would immediately adopt I-O __' _«ir own princess. A GREAT LITTLE COUNTRY. The Duke of York, in responding, paid a tribute to Sir James Allen's great services to New Zealand, not only in London, but at the Geneva conference. His retirement would be deeply regretted by a very wide circle of official [ and unofficial friends. New Zealand's loyalty was unsurpassed anywhere in the Empire. New Zealand was British to the very core, her people possessing the most sterling character. Now Zealand was a small country, about the size of Britain, but quantity was not necessarily an index of quality. I Little New Zealand deserved the title "great" as fully as any of the sister Dominions. | He had been wondering whether the inventors of the New Zealand arms had not designed more wisely than they knew. .."It seems to me the four stars thereon have an inner meaning, one standing for loyalty, the second for virtue,.meaning the qualities making a man, the third for the country's entrancing beauty, : and the fourth for destiny. There cannot he any looking backward for New Zealanu, but steady progress in every sphere of activity. Prosperity will be yours in the widest sense." Tremendous applause greeted the Duke of York's announcement: "I hope Sir James Allen's Invitation may shortly he fulfilled." Mr. W. Pember Beeves, in proposing tho toast of "The Visitors," particularly referred to Earl Jellicoe and Viscount AHenby. He found throughout New Zealand tho excellent effects of Earl Jellicoe's regime. He considered Earl Jellicoe's great mistakes were, firstly, leaving, and secondly, taking the family with him. Viscount Allenby, in replying, paid a tribute to New Zealand's unbounded hospitality during his recent visit. He emphasised the country's natural grandeur and tho inhabitants' natural physique. He was sure Their Highnesses would accept the invitation in the near future in order to see a Dominion destined to become even greater than Britain. Earl Jellicoe, in response to calls for a speech, said, "I am confident the Duke and Duchess of York will leave New Zealand with the same sorrow and regret as myself." PRESTIGE OF IMPERIAL TIE. Mr. Amery paid a tribute to the political career, of Sir James Allen, who, he said, had done incalculable work on behalf of the Dominion during his High Commissionership.

He added: "There is no foreign nation that would not gain immensely in power, influence, and dignity if admitted to the fellowship of the British Empire. There is no nation in the Empire that would not lose • immeasurably in moral. and material strength and prosperity, in status and prestige in the eyes of the world, and in the power of influencing thought throughout the world, if it evacuated its place in the front rank among the nations held hy the united peoples of the British Crown." Sir James Allen, in responding, said: "The Pacific Cable Board dispute has caused flutters in certain dovecotes, but patience will entirely dispel them." Ho added that he was returning sorrowfully, but he was confident there was work awaiting him in New Zealand. He hoped the courtesy extended him would be extended to his successor. The day would come when Iho High Commissionership would be regarded in his own Dominion as even more important than it was to-day.