AN EMPIRE CORONATION

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22963, 19 August 1936, Page 7

AN EMPIRE CORONATION

KING’S COMMISSION NEW BODY SET UP i/'hom Our Own Correspondent) (.By Air Mail) LONDON. July 22. For the first time in British history a special body has been set up so that the dominions may be represented in making certain of the arrangements for the coronation ceretiioiiy on May 12 next. It was officially announced on July 20 that the King had appointed the special commission in recognition of the equal interests of the dominions with those of the United Kingdom in the event. The setting up of this body results from the fact that since the coronation of King George the dominions have acquired a new status under the Statue of Westminster. The Duke of York is chairman of the new commission, which includes the members of the Privy Council Coronation Committee, the Prime Ministers of Canada, South Africa, New Zealand, and Australia, and the High Commissioners in London of those countries. India is in a different category. She hopes to sec her Emperor crowned on Indian soil. The reason for the appointment of tiie commission is given in the following statement issued from Buckingham Palace:—

It has been felt that the traditional procedure for making arrangements for the coronation ceremony needs to be supplemented in view of the present constitutional position, in order to provide suitable machinery for cooperation between the King’s several Governments.

The actual ceremony takes place, of course, in the United Kingdom, and the matters solely affecting the United Kingdom, on which decisions are required and executive action must be taken, will be dealt with by the Coronation Committee of the Privy Council and Its Executive Committee which have already been set up. At the same time, in order to recognise the equal interest of the Dominions with the United Kingdom in those aspects of the coronation which are of general concern, and with the object or harmonising ancient tradition with modern constitutional requirement, the King, as announced to-day, has appointed a special Coronation Commission to consider these aspects. Since precedent counts for so much in these matters (remarks the Daily Telegraph), it may be assumed that extreme care will be taken in this effort to harmonise ancient tradition with modern constitutional requirements, lest any loophole be given for possible misinterpretation. Theoretically, each dominion will be crowning it own King next May in Westminster Abbey at the same moment as the United Kingdom, and the arrangements will be accepted by one and all. Possibly, when the larger commission meets it may be found that there is in effect little to do but express concurrence with the views of the Privy Council Committee. But like the laying on of other hands than those of the bishops at an ordination, the commission will give a collective Imperial grace.