THE CORONATION

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume I, Issue 45, 4 February 1911, Page 1

THE CORONATION

QUEEN ALEXANDRA. ASSOf iATioN. CODY !;!CHI. x London. Feb. 3. The "Daily Express” states tha: Queen Alexandra will not attend the Coronation as there is no precedent for the presence of a dowager queen. AUSTRALIAN LIGHT HORSE. Sydney. Feb. 3. A number of members of the Ist Australian Light Horse regiment, of which the King is colonel-in-chief, have volunteered to defray their own expenses in connection with the Coronation, provided they obtain Government sanction to go officially.

ADVERTI SING A ( STR ALI A.

(Received 1. 9.5 a.m.) Melbourne. Feb. I

Mr. Batchelor has tet timed and discussed the matter with Mr. Fisher who is not prepared to say whether Australia should follow New Zealand’s example in erecting an arch for the Coronation route. Several schemes are already under consideration for advertising Aus tralia at the Coronation festivities.

SYDNEY ILLU MIN A T lON S

(Received 4, 9.5 a.m.) Sydney, Feb. 4.

A scheme is being considered for illuminating and decorating publie buildings for the Coronation. MR. FISHER’S DEPARTURE. (Received 4. 9.5 a.m.) Melbourne. Feb. 4. Referring to the resolutions passed at the Labour Conference against ministers and members attending the Coronation befote a reference vote was taken. Mr. Fisher pointed out that the main reason for leaving early was in order to reach London in time for the Imperial Conference. WESTRALIAN PREMIER’S EXPENSES. Perth. Feb. -I. The Assembly passed the item of £l5OO to cover the expenses of the Premier’s representation of the State at the Coronation. The Leader of the Opposition approved of the Premier's mission. (To the Editor.)

Sir, -Will you give mt* a little space in your rolumns to protest against the absurdity of this Mary Coronation Gift The suggestion seems to me to have emanated from seme girl who has just left school, or some effete old duchess whose ideas are limited to her own sphere of life. Although I am privileged to join this chain of Marys and Marians, it is about the last thing on earth I would do to avail inyscif of its opportunities i:i this respect. There is something soft-headed, not to say silly, in this appeal to the Marys of the Empire, and look at it wh.u h way one will, there seems no sensible reason tor it. On the contrary, it is provocative of di-content and the drawing of invidious comparisons. M hen one pictures Qiarii Mary in her Coronation rol>es. blazing with priceless jewels, and surrounded by all the panoply of the glittering Court, dazz'ing in her splendour, exalted to the rank • >•’ Queen of the Empire on whi«h the sun never sets. the idea of the Marys of the Empire vibutc.;<s_ primes «•> purchase a personal ornament for tier is so e\t rat agantly -upvr fluoiis. so • leco’t.grno; s with her po-'ti-.n it rates our. Imagine a woman lias-

ing diamonds from the rrowu on her head ai d thiuugh mil fold <?f her royal nd.is want mg a ••personal o; n;> oeiit' as a t'oron'i! io f i gift ' rvm at! the Ma/vs because her own na.ee is Mary. The id»a. savours of the wash r d., is ditinetlv modern and olutoeranc. The v» t v a>‘so< ’ iiiou of the name in common has ’ts objections. Imf if it be assrs iat»‘d. it leads one into scenes u'iy widely different from the brilliance of rhe Coronation tableaux. »o different that it is little wonder the Socialist is created and the Anarchist produced.

We should nut have to go many hundred yards from all the pageantry of the Coronation to find Marys absolutely destitute, homeless. in want of the very necessaries of life. In contrast with Queen Mary in her jewelled robes you will see many a Mary without a decent dress to wear, and to whom even a robe de nuit is an impossible luxury. Instead of dainty fet t in satin-gemmed shoes, vou will see scores and scores of Marys with worn-out boots and soaking wet feet /in the rainy streets. The poor old Marys who have trudged through their three score years —how many of them sit shivering over jHir empty grate while the frost/numbs their limbs and they long for a warm cloak and a hot basin of soup I And the Marys who wait supperless anil ciici-rli-ss for the return of the drunken husband -what gift is ilu re for them fhe Marys who watch through the long hours of night over the bed of some sick <h:ld. and have m> money to relieve its suffering ami to supply its pressing wants. Do not they want gif’s more urgently than the Altirx io.’derl with jewels ' Think of the many Maiys Sell widowed to provide for fatherless little ones, of bow they sit up st! night by a soli tarv caudle io mend the rags the .Ididren have taken off but must v--;*r again l«> morrow.

How '. ’i tin -e Marys be asso- ■ i:-i > d in any possible way with the t ; Marv otherwise than by tin." indissoluble link of the l>roti.rm.o.l of Mau.' And how can J i-, be re;iiis«d while jewels and

’iiit ies are lumped on one. isd others abide in want and mis-

etv : Onh in the light of humanity c.tu tin* truth he seen that all we ir».;,fss is received from the Hand ,’>f the Mum. r t» be i -ed in His • < ''Vice.

! the ?•!.■■■.• -I <> have the p< !• ti'i-s at'ii pounds give thi m •, i.« the-. > rilie’-e suffering, h.-ip -... n- si-uggiimt way'ari ito> ig life’s stony way. or light <•.. burden that weighs all to<> l>-*avi!>. on a weaker soul. In these i> gilts ;dl the Marys in th * wh :!e ! d miy foim a Itbk aim !, > milted with a greater Mary. Queen <«i lliavei:. 1 an.. MARY.