NEW ZEALAND DINNER

Greymouth Evening Star, 20 June 1927, Page 5

NEW ZEALAND DINNER

A HAPPY GATHERING. (Australian & N.Z. Cable Assn.) LONDON, June 17. There were 400 enthusiastic guests at the New Zealand annual dinner at the Mayfair* Hotel. Sir J. Parr presided. Mr Amery (Dominion Secretary) was the chief guest, and others were: —Lord Jellicoe,, brilliantly bemedalled; Sir Joseph Cook, Sir Jas. Mills, Lord Islington, Mr Douglas Hay, the Bishop of London, the Earl of Liverpool, Mr Huxham, Mr Robert Bell, Mr P. A. Brett, Admiral Beal, Generals Chaytor and Furse, Mr Peter Larkin, Mr Hyland, and Mr Murray (shipping, banking, and produce representatives) ; Lord Vesty and Mr H. T. B. Drew. Tire menu, which was outstandingly characteristic of New Zealand, included Toheroa soup, and rainbow trout, sent by Mr Coates at the request of Sir J. Pari-; Canterbury lamb, and passion fruit. A sensation was created on the appearance of an ice image of a kiwi. The floral decorations included pohutakawa, native ferns and flax, Rimu saplings, and nikau palms. Sir James Parr bade Mr Amery God-speed on his Dominions’ visit, and invited him to essay the Mount Cook climb. Mr Amery’s legal and journalistic training, fortified by his military and political career, enabled him soundly to appreciate the Dominion temperament. Only good could result from a visit to the Dominions by a statesman of such calibre, and others should follow the example. Mr Amery, after loud cheers and cries of “Kia Ora,” said the artist in ice last year had thought those attending the dinner would be fettered by ice kangaroo, but to-night’s artist had been on safer ground with the kiwi. The Imperial Conference had demonstrated that the Empire was not an administration governed from one centre, but a Commonwealth under a common Crown.

The Bishop of London said it was one of the cheeriest dinners he ever attended. He hoped it would make all the other visitors go to New Zealand. He referred to the glorious, warm-hearted welcome he received, specially at Christchurch, from a Mayor, who was a Baptist minister, a Labour member, and a. jolly good fellow, too. The Bishop said he never felt more at home than in New Zealand, whose Archbishops and Bishops were the finest he had met round the world. It had been reported that he had said in a letter to the “Times” that, after seeing the GovernorGeneral, Prime Minister, and Labour Party in New Zealand, he had formed the opinion that only ten thousand people could go to New Zealand yearly. He wished to make it clear that the Governor-General never said anything about migration. Sir J. Parr interpolated a farewell toast to Sir Joseph Cook, saying he was sure all would join in wishing him many years of activity and usefulness.

Lord Jellicoe proposed the toast of the Chairman. He assured him of the sympathy of every New Zealander in carrying out his important work. In the intervals between the Conference it was desirable that British Ministers should go out and get personal touch with overseas colleges. This applied particularly to the Secretary for the Dominions. Mr Amery said he had most pleasurable anticipations of what his visit to New Zealand would mean. He recalled fils visit there in 1913, and hoped to extend his mountaineering exploits, which then were confined to Mount Eden. He hoped to meet the colleagues who were building up New Zealand, which was a little nation with a great heart. Anzac had demonstrated this, as he had seen when visiting Russel’s Post in the days when all deemed victory near. New Zealand’s Samoan administration was a true exemplification of the mandate. Mr W. Pember Reeves, proposing the toast of the visitors, pointed out Mr Hay, sitting opposie Lord Jellicoe, and suggested that if Mr Lowry (the cricket captain) w-anted help, he should send out an S.O.S. for Lord Jellicoe, who was a notable batsman. The Bishop of London was a fisher of men, for which reason he should have enjoyed the notable trout fishing in New' Zealand. Mr Amery’s New Zealand visit .should increase his eloquence. Mi- Reeves also paid a tribute to Sir J. Cook and to Colonel Gray, as “the Antipodean Adam who tempted the British Eve with New’ Zealand apples.”