COURT CANCELLATIONS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23514, 31 May 1938, Page 17

COURT CANCELLATIONS

NEW ZEALANDERS DISALLOWED INDIGNITY FOR DOMINION (From Our Own Correspondent) LONDON, May 11. It is hardly likely that any Lord Chamberlain has had a more uncongenial duty to perform than that which compelled the Earl of Cromer, on the eve of his retirement from his exacting and high office, to order the cancellation of Commands for Court presentations that had been issued to two women from New Zealand. Their names had been submitted, as is the custom, through the High Commissioner, and they had been duly approved. „ .. Last week-end, to the horror of everyone conversant with Court etiquette and all that it implies, the London and provincial newspapers came out with startling headlines and with prominent street-corner posters, announcing that Court presentation bans had been made in the case of two New Zealand women, and they mentioned the names of Mrs William Webster and Miss Kathleen O’Brien. The published reason was that both ladies had granted interviews to the press. And further, there was the implied advertising which was Involved, for Mrs Webster had been described as “fashion hostess at a Liverpool store," and Miss O’Brien as “a hostess at a Manchester hotel.” Presentation at Court is the highest honour that people ordinarily can attain to, and the occasion must alvyays remain a red-letter day 'in the diary of the fortunate debutante. The Earl of Cromer is a great upholder of the dignity of his high position and all that it entails. In duty bound, he cancelled the Commands in these instances, and all New Zealanders share in feeling the indignity that the Dominion suffers, but they know it is the inevitable sequel. The decision was communicated to New Zealand House while the High Commissioner was in Glasgow. REFERENCE IN LIVERPOOL

Under the heading, “ Honour for ‘ Henrietta,’ L’pool and New Zealand,” the Liverpool Echo of April 29 had referred to Mrs Webster as the “ daughter of Mr and Mrs H. Jones, pentrefelin, Llangollen, and wife of Professor Webster, of Massey University College, New Zealand. She formerly acted as a mannequin in Chester and London, spent some time in New Zealand, before her return to this country last year. She became the youngest president in Australasia of the combined Y.M.C.A. and Y.W.C.A. movements. She was hostess to the late Sir Charles Kingsford Smith and the Southern Cross crew after their crossing of the Tasman Sea, and is a keen repertory player, very musical, and a writer of short stories. She is at present fashion adviser, as ' Henriette,’ to John Rubin, Ltd., the London road store proprietors, Liverpool.” The first intimation of the ban appeared in a London evening paper almost as soon as the official communications had come from Buckingham Palace. THE HIGH COMMISSIONER To the representative of the Empire News, a Sunday paper published in Manchester, Mr Jordan is quoted as having said: “ It is a complete mystery to me why these girls have had their invitations cancelled. I would never put the name of anyone forward whom I did not believe to be a fit and proper person to receive such an honour. Both Miss O’Brien and Mrs Webster are highly respected girls.” When it was suggested to the High Commissioner that the cancellation may have been due to something the girls said in published interviews, he replied: “It may have been; but 1 want to find out.” It is added: “ Before he left for Geneva, Mr Jordan said he would certainly take up the matter with the Lord Chamberlain,” THE LADIES THEMSELVES To a representative of the Daily Dispatch, Manchester. Mrs Webster remarked; “ I have certainly not sought any publicity since I was informed of the honour. I have given no interviews to the press.” To Miss O'Brien the statement is attributed (Daily Dispatch, Manchester) - ‘ 1 originally came to England to be married, but I changed my mind.” She refused to comment on the withdrawal of her invitation. “I am sorry,” she said, “but I have nothing to say.” The Manchester Evening News of May 5 published Miss O’Brien’s photograph. with caption: “Kathleen O’Brien, hostess at the Midland Hotel, Manchester, who takes a day off from her duties to be presented to the King at Buckingham Palace next Wednesday. Born in New Zealand, Miss O'Brien is j keen all-round sportswoman.” The News Chronicle (London) of May 7 stated; “Mrs Webster, in an interview last week, was reported to have said that she became bored during a stay in Liverpool, so she offered her services to the store to raise money for charity. Her offer, she said, was accepted. ” Miss O’Brien, daughter of a New Zealand business man, figured in interviews with two London newspapers. “ In one she was quoted as having said she would have no trouble about the curtsy, as she taught it to debutantes in New Zealand. “ During the summer Miss O’Brien is in charge of social arrangements at a big Scottish hotel.” Interviews or no interviews, unenviable publicity, accompanied by bitter disappointment, has resulted.