EMPIRE AND RUGBY

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 134, 4 December 1930, Page 11

EMPIRE AND RUGBY

A HAPPY COMPARISON

MIDDLE TEMPLE DINNER

(From "The Post's" Representative.) LONDON, 31st October. One of tho best speeches made by the Prime Minister (Mr. Forbes) since he has been in London was that given at the dinner of tho Honourable Society of the Middle Temple in Middlo Temple Iliiu last week. Mr. Forbes had intended to enlarge on tho historic siguificaneo of the Hall, but Mr. Justice Horridgc, the treasurer, who proposed tho first toast, dealt with this subject, and the New Zealand Prime Minister Uad to reviso the points of his speech. He very happily compared the component parts of the members of tho Empire to the members of a Rugby footHall team. Mr. Justice Horridge, in proposing tho toast of "Our Guests," mentioned that the hall in which they were dining was completed in 1573 in the "reign of Queen Elizabeth. It took the place of an earlier hall, as the existence of tho society had been traced back for at least' 500 years. Kef erring to articles of historic interest in the hall, he said that the long table on which the silver was placed, though it was 30ft in length, was, made from one oak tree, and the wood was believed to have been brought from Windsor Forest and to have been presented by Queen Elizabeth. The table behind him, always known as "the cupboard," was reported to have been made from wood taken from the Golden Hind in which Drake circumnavigated the globe. The windows bore many, coats of arms belonging to members of the Inn, including tho Koyal Arms of King Edward VII., who was a bencher and treasurer of the Inn; the Duko of Clarence, who was also a bonchcr, and the present Prince of Wales, who had conferred on the Inn tlio great honour of being himself one of the benchers. HISTORICAL OCCASIONS. In the contemporary records there was an account of tho reception by the beuchors in 1586 of Sir Francis Drake, one of the company of the Middlo Temple, after he had successfully completed his great expedition with 25 ships against the Spanish Indies. Besides Drake, Hawkins and Frobisher wcro also members of the society. On tho Feast of the Purification, IGOI, Shakespeare's "Twelfth Night" was performed in the hall by Shakespeare's own company. When he cast his eyes over the company assembled he realised, as ho felt everybody must realise, that the glory of that night was as great as tho glories of tho past and the account of the feast would go down to history as no less notable than thoso he had mentioned. The Society of the Middle Temple would always regard that occasion as being one of tho greatest in its annals. (Cheers.) Mr. Kamsay Mac Donald (British Primo Minister) was tho first to reply. His task at the Conference, he said, had very frequently beon to remind his colleagues that the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland had a Dominion status and that they must be looked upon with the same respect as we showed in looking upon them.. The United Kingdom would continue to have tho equal status of a Dominion in tho Commonwealth of British nations. Ho hoped it might bo their good fortune to discovor how national liberty could bo combined in a commonwealth of unity, how difference of raeo and difference of circumstances, economics, and history might bo amalgamated. . IMPROVING- TEAM PLAY. Mr. Forbes said that the delegates at tho Conference wero going steadily along their way, and ho was hopeful that they might be able to get at some good results. If that wore not the case, ho could tell them that in Now Zealand there would be feelings of intense disappointment. Tho judicial system of New Zealand was modelled entirely upon that of Great Britain, and they did their best to uphold the very high traditions cherished in this country. In New Zealand they regarded the Privy Council here as tho copingstone of their judicial system. He had to bo particularly careful not to overstep the mark when referring to the Imperial Conference at tho moment, but he could not help thinking of it in terms of Rugby football. A combination such as that of the Dominions and the Mother Country liad a groat future, but they could only mako that great future if they played as a team. The dclogates from overseas had eomo to soo how they could improve this team play. One part, of tho game in which they fult there had been a little weakness was in the passing. (Laughter and cheers.) If the play of the British Empire team was going, to bo improved they must improve tho passing1, and tho delegates had eomo to discuss matters, mako suggestions, and plaeo thorn on tho tabie iv open conference. They had candidly stated where they thought tho game could bo improved, and now they felt it was up to tho Mother Country, and they asked, "Will you pass tho ball?" (Cheers.) With such an atmosphere as surrounded tho Conference it would be very surprising if they did not get some" way along the road. He did not say that it would bo possible to go the wholo journey, but ho believed that they would' get somewhere along tho road. Throughout Groat Britain there appeared to bo a feeling of expectancy that something would be done. (Cheers.) v