FOUR HUNDRED GUESTS

Evening Post, Volume CXXVII, Issue 40, 17 February 1939, Page 14

FOUR HUNDRED GUESTS

PRIME MINISTER ENTERTAINS

CANCER CONFERENCE PARTY

The Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. M. J. Savage, gave a reception at 4.30 p.m. yesterday at Parliament House in honour of the delegates attending the tenth Australian-New Zealand Cancer Conference. Over 400 guests were invited, including Ministers of the Crown, local members of Parliament and members of the Legislative Council, Government officials, Judges of the Supreme Court, city councillors, members of the Hospital Board, representatives of ecclesiastical circles, naval and military circles, the Scientific Council, Newspaper Proprietors' Association, the Chamber of Commerce, the Harbour Board, and many other bodies. All local medical men and their wives, and many private citizens were also invited.

The guests of honour were the Australian visitors, Dr. J. H. L. Cumpston (Director-General of Health for Australia) and Mrs. Cumpston, Dr. M> J. Holmes, Dr C. E. Eddy, Dr. B. T. Edye, and Mr. and Miss Edye, Dr. C. F. de Monchaux, Dr. F. A. Maguire, Dr. E. H. Molesworth, Dr. H. J. Ham, Dr. W. L. Kirkwood and Mrs. Kirkwood, Dr. A. M. Stan ton and Mrs. Stanton, Dr. T. F. Ryan, Dr. L. M. McKillop, Dr. E. W. Casey, Dr. J. B. Thiersch and Mrs. Thiersch, Dr. W. P. Holma'n, and Mr. Howard Gough, and the delegates from other parts of New Zealand.

The Prime Minister was unable to be present to •: receive the guests, but arrived a little later in the afternoon, the Hon. P. Fraser (Minister of Health) and Mrs. Fraser deputising for him in the meantime. Mrs. Fraser was wearing a black redingote over a floral frock, and her turned-up hat was of shiny black straw.

The guests gathered in the spacious social hall. Tea tables, decorated with tall vases of tiger lilies and pom-pom dahlias, were placed at intervals all about the room, and efficient waiters served the guests with tea and ices. The long official table was arranged in front of the windows, which were draped with the Australian and New Zealand ensigns. The buzz of conversation was accompanied by delightful music played by Mr. Leon de Mauny, (violin), Madame de Mauny (piano), and Mr. Claude Tanner ('cello). ■

Speeches were made by the Prime Minister, Dr. Cumpston, Sir James Elliott (Dominion president of the Cancer Campaign) and the Hon. P. Fraser.