KING’S ILLNESS

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 5 December 1928, Page 5

KING’S ILLNESS

IMPROVEMENT MAINTAINED.

HEART GIVES ANXIETY. PUBLIC’S DESIRE FOR NEWS. (United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph Copyright.) (Australian Press Association.) LONDON, Doc. 4, The King passed a quieter night, though anxiety concerning his heart must continue, stated a bulletin issued at 10.30 .a.in. The improvement noted last evening is so far satisfactorily maintained.

Sir Stanley Hewett and Lord Dawson expected a commission to act on the King’s behalf would be appointed today. It will probably consist of the Lord Chancellor, Lord FlaiLsham, the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Duke of York and the Prime Minister, Mr Stanley Baldwin. Several times between 5000 and 6000 people were at the palace gates. Fash-ionably-dressed women stepped from cars and mingled with poorer persons, all equally eager to read the bulletin. One woman fainted in the sudden crush. A policeman carried her to- an ambulance. Two women who arrived in a saloon car knelt in prayer after their chauffeur had brought the news. Scenes alter the theatres- closed were similar to the previous night’s. Every motorcar -seems to go homeward via the palace daily. The -spectacle seems to have impressed all foreign correspondents. The Paris “Gaulois” describes- it as a characteristic phenomenon and a great lesson. “The King is not so- much in the eyes of the people a sovereign,” the paper says. “He is rather the head of the British family.”

The “Petit Journal” adds-: “The person of the King is the kernel, not only of England, but of the British Einpire, and he represents something unchangeable round which the vast British system revolves.” The medical correspondent to the “Daily Chronicle” states: “In a measure the anxiety has diminished in the last 24 hours. The slight fall in temperature may be offset against the gravity of the condition of the heart, which shows fatigue, and the lung, which -demands the .stimulus of oxygen. In such conditions a fall in temperature is not necessarily a go-od sign. It is a defensive measure and a, vigorous febrile r-espo.mse to infection is a good sign. It shows fight. When the response tires the temperature falls-, which means that the defences are fatigued and progress towards, recovery is stationary. . “Everyone now realises the King is -struggling for life, but patients- have rallied anc] recovered from conditions infinitely more critical than those displayed by His Majesty.” Despite his illness, the King caused a letter of thanks to be sent to- Lord Birkenlie-ad and the Sea Wolves for a gift- of flowers; also one to London flower girls for a similar gift. A service of humble intercession is to be held in St. Giles’ Cathedral, Edinburgh, to-morrow, which the Lord Provost, magistrates and other public- men will attend. FIVE DOCTORS IN CONSULTATION

KING HAS QUIETER MORNING

SLIGHT IMPROVEMENT MAINTAINED.

Received 1 10.35 a..m. to-day. LONDON, Dec. 4. For the first time, five doctors held a consultation at Buckingham Palace, which lasted half an hour. Then a bulletin was issued. The Queen went for a- drive soon after. The bulletin read : “The King passed a quiet mornin", though his temperature is mow 100.2. The -slight improvement an Ins o-eneral condition noted in the last bulletin is maintained.” The bulletin, which was signed by Sir Stanley Hewett, Sir E. Farquhar Buzzard, Sir Humphry Bolleston, and L-ord Daw-son, is regarded as- satisfactory m the palace, where a- more hopeful atmosphere reigns. The doctors’ anxiety continues to be concentrated on the heart, the strength of which is being careitiliy watched. There is hope that as the Kill" is drowsy, he will have a qiuetei day” and thus regain some of the strength lost. Two thousand people awaited the bulletin. The band lias reappeared lor the changing oi; the guaid.

APPOINTMENT OF COMMISSION

Received 10.35 a.m. to-day. LONDON, Dec. 4. In tlie 'House of Commons the lit. Hon. Stanley Baldwin announced the appointment- of a commission to act on be naif of the King, consisting of the Queen, Prince of Wales, Archbishop of Canterbury, Lord Chancellor, and the Prime Minister. The order-in-councii was signed by His Majesty himself. The “Central News" says that a Privy Council, in connection with the commission, was held in the King s bedroom. DUKE OF GLOUCESTER. LEAVES AFRICA ON FRIDAY. Received 10.35 a.rn. to-day. CAPETOWN, Dev. 4 The Duke of Gloucester reaches Bulawayo at seven o’clock to-night and picks up the Rhodesian express. He sails bv the Balmoral Castle on Inday . General Hertzog has summoned Cabinet to meet to-day to deal with the position arising from the Kings mness.

UNEASINESS IN PARLIAMENT

the constitutional position

(By Telegraph—Special to The Star.) WELLINGTON, Dec. 5. The illness of the King has cast a shadow over the New Zealand lar lament anti there is a distinct lee mi-, of uneasiness on the score ol his Majesty's condition. This, in some measure, has resulted in a cessation ol some of the activities ol the three political parties, each of which is bopin <r that the worst will not happen. However, should his Majesty succumb |to his illness, the constitutional procedure as far as the New Zealand I arliament is concerned, is clearly cleimecl. in the Demise of the Crown Act it is provided that the General Assembly in being at any demise of the Crown shall not be determined or dissolved by such demise, but shall continue as long as it would have continued but for such demise, unless it is sooner prorogued or dissolved by the Governor. The Act also stipulates that at the first meeting of the General Assembly after the demise of the Crown, members shall take fresh oaths of allegiance to the sovereign for the time bei«B-.