KING'S TOUR

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23382, 26 June 1939, Page 12

KING'S TOUR

HAPPY EXPERIENCE LUNCHEON SPEECH • HER MAJESTY PRESENT • GUESTS 0E THE CITY By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright British "Wireless LONDON, Juno 23 The amazing scenes witnessed yesterday were repeated in London's streets when tho King and Queen to-day drove to a luncheon at tho Guildhall, where they were tho City's guests. Enormous crowds began to pack the decorated streets four hours before Their Majesties left the Palace in an open landau and with an escort of Lifeguards. Tho route, along which an incessant roll of cheering accompanied the smiling .Royal couple, was lined by London's record muster of troops of all arms.

Tho King, replying to tho Lord Mayor's toast, said:—

Our Canadian tour was a momentous and happy experience lor us both. Historically unique, it is my earnest hope that it may also have some importance in its influence ' upon the Empire's future destiny.

His Majesty gave isome impressions of tho great journey through Canada, America and Newfoundland. Tho foromosb of theso was the fact enshrined in a phrase by a North American historian. "Over all nations is humanity." Human feeling was still tho most potent of all the forces affecting world affairs. Tho King said ho liad been deeply impressed by finding that the great British political testament, tho Magna Carta, was an object of keen public interest in tho World's Fair at New York. In their reception in Canada His Majesty claimed to have detected the influence of those free institutions and that faith in liberty and justice which tho Dominion had inherited from tho Mother Country. His Majesty added: —

For it was not alone the actual presence ol their Kiing and Queen that made them opem their hearts to us. Their welcomo, it seemed to me, was also an expression ol their thankfulness for those rights of free citizenship which are the heritage of every member of our great Commonwealth of Nations.

In a striking declaration, with which he concluded his speech, which was broadcast, the King s.iid:—

It was a desire to nerve the ideals of that Commonwealth which led me to undertake my journey—to loster its sane and wholesome faith —to show, if I could , that its headship, which I !iiave been called upon to assume, exists to-day as a potent force for promoting peace and goodwill amoag mankind.

' Tho New Zealand High Commissioner, Mr. W. J. Jordan, and Mrs. Jordan attended the luncheon.