NEW ZEALAND SOCIETY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21224, 2 July 1932, Page 11

NEW ZEALAND SOCIETY.

LUNCHEON IN LONDON.

EMPIRE DAY FUNCTION. THE DOMINION'S PROGRESS. [from our owk correspondent.] LONDON, May 27. Nearly 200 people— most of them New Zealander;—attended the Empire Day luncheon of the New Zealand Society, held under tiie chairmanship of the High Commissioner, president of the society. Ladies were invited on this occasion. The chief guest was the Lit. Hon. W. Runciman, president of the .'Board of Trade, who was accompanied by Mrs. Runciman, a former M.P. Luring the proceedings mention was made of the fact that Mr. and Mrs. Runciman were once members of the House of Commons at the same time, thus creating a record. Earl Jellicoo was prevented by slight indisposition from attending, but the Countess Jellicoe was present. Others present included representatives of banks, produce organisations, shipping companies and other business interests. The menu consisted largely of New Zealand produce and everything was of Empire orig.n.

The day marked the 50th anniversary of the landing in London of the first consignment of frozen mutton and lamb from New Zealand and this gave Sir Thomas Wilford the opportunity to refer to the splendid and continuous development of the goods produced and exported by the Dominion. The arrival of the first consignment of the meat, he stated, was referred to by the Times 50 years ago as a "prodigious feat," while in the House of Lords the subject was spoken of as "an extraordinary example of the wonderful foresight and energy of Britons overseas." That day, continued the High

Commissioner, was a red letter day, because New Zealand had attained the state of sending to the Mother Country more lamb in one year than the wholp of the lamb sent forward bv .Argentina and Australia combined. Ten million carcases

had been landed here in such an excellent condition that only 120 carcases were condemned, for wrongful thawing. Hearts Open to New Zealand.

Mr. Runciman described New Zealand as "part of ourselves." Had it not been for the development of the meat trade, New Zealand's wealth, population and prosperity would have been far below its present level, and those who were connected with New Zealand had reason to be grateful to the inventors who made the carriage of carcases round the world a possibility, also to the enterprising commercial men who risked their money in the days when success had not been proved, as well as to the men of science, forethought and adventure. New Zealand was very proud of its identity, and rightly so, said Mr. Runciman. He hoped it was also proud of the race from which its population had been drawn. There were many people north of Britain who regarded New Zealand as a province of Scotland—(laughter) —and a great many of their relatives who left Scotland in tho days gone by and had settled in New Zealand came Home far too seldom. It was the habit of Scotsmen, once tliey had left their own country, to leave it for good; they had had the enormous advantage of taking with them a British atmosphere. Sir William Birdwood's Remarks. Speaking on behalf of Earl Jellicoe, Field-Marshal Sir William Birdwood referred to the one-time Governor-General of New Zealand as "that magnificent sailor, gallant officer and great gentleman." He spoko in the highest terms of the New Zealanders who had served under himself during the war. He could not speak sufficiently highly of tho magnificent material which New Zealand produced. No better fighters or comrades did he wish to meet. When tho High Commissioner's term in England expired he (Sir Thomas) would carry back the best of good wishes from many who were able to appreciate the good work he was doing here and who would wish him very many years of happiness.

Sir Thomas Wilford said he felt certain that the man to succeed him as High Commissioner will find the position no sinecure. The fact that the High Commissioners to-day are consulted by the British Government in every move of Britain's policy means that there is certainly a big responsibility to carry, apart altogether from the work each man does on behalf of his own country.