CORONATION CONTINGENTS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23364, 2 December 1937, Page 12

CORONATION CONTINGENTS

ENTERTAINMENT FUND “WE HAVE SPENT ALL THE MONEY” FINAL REPORT BY LORD MILNE (From Our Own Correspondent) (By Air Mail) LONDON, Nov. 3. “Their soldierly bearing and wonderful conduct in England has done a great deal of good towards cementing, strengthening, and increasing the great friendship between ourselves and the dominions,” said Lord Milne, grand president of the British Empire Service League, at the final meeting to-day of the managing trustees of the Overseas Troops’ Entertainment Fund. He was referring to the Dominion and Colonial Contingents which attended the Coronation. Last April certain moneys, the balance of funds which were raised in 1900 for the purpose of entertaining overseas troops visiting Great Britain in 1902 and 1911 for the Coronations of King Edward VII and King George V, were entrusted to the British Empire Service League by the Army Council. The leagub, whose honorary secretary is Captain Donald Simson, a New Zealander, also accepted the task of looking after the transport and entertainment of the overseas contingents. 1 “We accomplished our task successfully and we have spent all the money,” said Lord Milne, when reporting on the league’s work. A presentation of a piece of plate was made to Captain Simson by Majorgeneral Sir Allan Hunter, on behalf of the trustees in recognition of his services. A brochure was issued containing a report of the hospitality extended to the contingents. This brochure was described to the trustees by Lieutenant-colonel G. P. Vanier, official secretary for Canada House, as a “ valued souvenir which is going to be handed down to the sons of the members of the contingent.” It records the name of every man in all the contingents, it gives photographs of various incidents during the Coronation celebrations—including the presentation of medals at Buckingham Palace —the names of the societies, organisations, and people who entertained the contingents, and the “ hospitality programme ” arranged for the troops. A copy is to be sent to every man in each contingent, both in the dominions and throughout India and the colonies. Members of the New Zealand contingent will be glad to find several excellent photographs included of their various experiences; marching past New Zealand House on arrival, crossing Westminster Bridge on their return from Edinburgh, arriving at Nottingham, marching past Piccadilly Circus on Coronation Day, and mounting the guard at Buckingham Palace. After outlining briefly the hospitality extended to the Contingents, Lord Milne said that the trustees of the fund had been very grateful to everybody for the great assistance they had received, and for the overwhelming hospitality extended to the troops. He also paid a compliment to Captain Simson for "giving the whole of his time to make the visit of our friends from overseas as happy as he possibly could.”

“I personally believe that there is no better way at any time of spending money than on those from overseas,” said Lieutenant-colonel Vanier, amid laughter, when replying to Lord Milne on behalf of the Dominions and Colonial Offices in London. “Speaking for the Canadians, I can say that they were very nearly killed with hospitality. Fortunately, we chose a strong, hardy contingent. “ I do not know what we from overseas would have done without that fund, and without the excellent work of the managing trustees, who made is possible for such a comprehensive and generous hospitality. I assure you that every member of the Canadian Contingent told me that he would go back with an added love of this country and its people. I am speaking quite seriously when I say that the work that this fund has done will have far-reaching effects." 1