MR MACDONALD CHAIRMAN.

Otago Witness, Issue 3995, 7 October 1930, Page 49

MR MACDONALD CHAIRMAN.

MESSAGE TO THE KING. LONDON, October 1. Each delegation arrived in a State limousine provided by the British Government, bearing the silken flag of its country. Talkies and cameras buzzed. The delegations then went to the Locarno room, where the tables were arranged in a hollow square. Mr MacDonald had Mr Scullin on his right and Mr Forbes on his left. Mr MacDonald made the opening speech, and was followed by Mr Bennett, Mr Scullin, Mr Forbes, Genera) Hertzog, and others. The proceedings of the conference opened with Mr Bennett proposing and Mr Seullin seconding that Mr Mac Donald should be chairman. Mr MacDonald moved and General

Hertzog—as the only Prime Minister present in 1926—seconded that the conference’s first official act should be to present its respectful duty to his Majesty, joining in thankfulness for his

Majesty’s restoration to health and earnestly hoping that their Majesties might be spared for many years to inspire the feelings of love and affection which united all Britons under the Crown. His Majesty’s reply was read to the conference. It sincerely thanked the conference on behalf of himself and the Queen, and went on to say:— I am especially touched with the kind allusion to my restoration to health. Realising the all-important questions that will be considered, I shall follow with close attention the progress of your deliberations. The conference paid tributes to the memories of Lord Balfour, Mr Kevin O’Higgins, Sir Joseph Ward, Sir Neville Howse, and the Earl of Birkenhead.

It was agreed to establish a general economic committee of experts, to which the more detailed technical and economic subjects will be referred.