THE OAMARU MAIL THURSDAY, JUNE 3, 1920. GOD SAVE THE KING.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XLIV, Issue 14704, 3 June 1920, Page 4

THE OAMARU MAIL THURSDAY, JUNE 3, 1920. GOD SAVE THE KING.

To-day is the r fifty-fifth birthday of King George V., who was horn on the 3rd June, 1865, married to Princess Mary of Teck on tlie 6th July, 1893, succeeded to the throne. on May 6tli, 1910, and crowned June 22nd, 1911, The reign of King George lias been one of great events in many directions, but, of course, all other matters of moment have been cast into the shade by the : world war. That terrible tragedy, as we know, had the effect of bringing the King and his most worthy consort into close touch and sympathy with the people and imbuing the people with a higher personal regard-for their majesties and loyalty to tlie throne. - A bond of (sympathy was created between ruler and ruled that can never be severed. But King George has forged- other links in the golden chain. His reign has been characterised by a regard for demo- : cracy that : has never previously been approached by any British monarch. He has-proved himself a truly democratic King, and has : to the chosen representatives of the people many of the previously "treasured prerogatives of the Crown, so that today he possesses less .personal power than does the President of the Republic, of the United States. Let lis illustrate - the change's; that have "taken place. Under tlie unwfitten Constitution the direction of . all the foreign re-, latiohs of the Empire is vested in the hands of the sovereign, -who is legally independent of Parliament. _ Queen, Victoria was so jealous of this pre-, rogative that when; Lord Palmerston as Secretary of State, for' Foreign Affairs took upon himself, to. make some communication to Napoleon _ 111. without her prior "sanction she iiisisted upon his dismissal. King Edwaird .also guarded that royal prerogative, but lie exercised infinite tact in doing so. and brought to his.aid a remarkably full knowledge of what was passing in foreign capitals. It.wwars r largely due to him that "the entente cordiale was entered into between Britain, and France, which has oroyed of material advantage in curbing the- grasping policy cf Germany, for whom, unlike Queen Vic- [ toria, bo never entertained any j a ffecti.oll. King George has surrendered the prerogative to the representatives of the people, and oii ! this subject a recent American writer remarks : '.'There are some who are convinced that tlie King has quietlv abandoned this prerogative, with full knowledge and. intention, as a concession -to the ever increasing growth of.democracy in Great Britain. It- is because he swims with the popular "tide J instead of against it that he is enabled to -retain the affections of his lieges, 1 which are the surest-foundation of his throne. He has never shirked work or - responsibility; But being a verv 1 humane man-it is natural that be should ' wish to share the responsibilities with his most sagacious statesmen and with 1 the Parliamentary representatives of 1 his people when" it comes to making, a J decision entailing the loss of millions-of ] lives :and billions oftreasffre." ,- ■ The King has turned " his mind in other . • directions than' foreign relations. He * has "looked more 'closely into the im- J mediate concerns of' tlie people of the . ' Empire.- At Home he has been active t in Ithe''matter!" of the housing of the 1 people and other domestic subieets. But • ivhat more intimately affects us is that J tie has shown a sincere desire that the f

Crown slialkfce well acquainted with the peculiar conditions and ambitions of its overseas dominions l . That desire was manifested by liis own tours before became to the>"\thron<v and it has been amplified rby tho ioiirin.fi . now Jn proj gross b.v the Heir Apparent. _ Well inny I we.-then, to-day -give expression to loyal (felicitations to his -Majesty,•. andaccompany it with a hope for the long. I continuance of his life and: the loyaltylof his subjects