THE STATE OF SIEGE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 17216, 19 January 1918, Page 8

THE STATE OF SIEGE

LORD MAYOR'S BANQUET. A MILD PROTEST. (From Ouk Own Cohbkspondknt ) IjONDON, November 13. I don't know exactly in what year of tho Middlo Ages the Lord Mayor's banquet became an annual custom in London life. That is important to-day, bccause, according to tho authorities, it .is only the traditional nat-un* of the custom that constrained tho Lord Mayor to insist, on having tho banquet" at a timo when -we are besieged, and when every decent person is trying to show an example of abstemiousness in food.

Quito a few people believe to-day that as recruiting for our army no longer depends on drams and flag-wagging, the Lord Mayor's procession might well have boon sacrificed to the nation's needs, and the entrg.y and expmsa diverted to some war purpose. .Quite as many more bolievo that the banquet was -worse tlum unnecessary, and that tho Lord Mayor comes under mispicion of some- such paltry charge as selfishness, or personal vanity in holding an " extravagant and gluttonous feast" when he migiht have shown such a fine example of what we aro all being exhorted to—food economy.

When the banquet is over a certain number of the " respectable poor" of the city are according to immemorial custom, to receive what is loft over from, the Lord Mayor's table, and to bless him ncroix]ingly. This is purely legendtwy. What happons is that tho " respcctaible poor " are specially invited, and they aro to a groat extent well-to-do and well-dressed people, llie photograph of ono lady, well dressed, and wearing a fur coat, appeared the following day as she received her parcel of crumbs from the rich man's table. There were 300 of those, and they each received : A game pie. a large piece of taron of beef, partridge galantine, half an ox tongue, two rolls of bread. 'Illere was also a salmi of partridge for some. Strange to say, game pie, piubridge galantine, and ox tongue did not a.ppear on the menu of the banquet at all; and it is suggested that this has something to do with the parade which has since been made in the .House and out that the banquet conformed strictly to the rations.

The Lord Mayor (Mr C. A. Hanson, M.P.) says: '.'To apply to the evening function the term ' banquet' is so ludicrously inappropriate that I hesitate to use it. I have no doubt the committee's conscience is as clear as mine. The meagre diet, less and lighter than people would have had in their own homes, was a mere accessory to the real object- of the gathering, which was to afford his Majesty's Ministers and the representatives of our Allies a public opportunity of reviewing the present state of affairs connected with the war."

Mr Bonar Law said in the House that, care was taken to ensure that the total quantities of meat, flour, bread, and sugar consumed at tho Lord Mayor's banquet should not exceed the amount prescribed by clause 3 of "The Public Meals Order, 1917" (soz of meat uncooked, 2oz bread, loz flour, and 2-7oz sugar.

Mr Billing: Was not the wholo menu changed at the last moment, and a great deal of food wasted?

However, this may be, one of the ladies who have been lecturing for 'the Food Ministry in tho interests of economy, has resigned by way of protest. In her letter Mrs Boyd Dawson says: "The omission to practise in a public and striking manner the precepts that we. the lecturers, are asked to preach argues a lack of common decency 'that must inevitably tell against the efforts to encourage economy that tho Ministry is now putting forward."