DINNER AT THE GUILDHALL.

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

DINNER AT THE GUILDHALL.

A BRILLIANT GATHERING. LONDON, October 2.

There was a brilliant gathering at a dinner at the Guildhall by the Royal Empire Society, the British Empire League, the Overseas League, the British Empire Club, and the Victoria League to members of the conference and thrir womenfolk. Prince Arthur of Connaught presided, with Mrs Scullin on his left and Miss Bennett on his right. Mr and Mrs Forbes and Sir Thomas Sidey were at the top of the table, and a large number of Australians were present. Late in the evening an unusual .cene was created by a pale youth who walked up and took up his place behind Mr Thomas, shouting “ I’m 21, and I passed through Charterhouse and Cambridge. Solomon prayed for wisdom, and I do the same. I am speaking on behalf of humanity, and I want your help.” Cries of “ Order! Sit down! ” resulted in attendants leading out the youth, who as he left the building stated he did not represent any movement and did not need personal help. “ I’m thinking of my country, and want the youth to have a chance.”

Prince Arthur of Connaught asked the Prime Ministers to carry home to their people—all parties, classes, and creeds—an expression of abiding and unalterable affection, goodwill, and sympathy. Mr Bennett described the Guildhall as containing monuments and memorials of those who made the Empire possible. In the diversity of the people’s talents ana resources lay the real strength of the Empire. “ That diversity we are trying to us“ to create harmony. Before a 8 lies the task of Empire consolidation, 'nd we must think of the Empire as an economic unit. If we but keep faith with one another we can achieve unity. The Empire is not bankrupt in statecraft, and our steadfast purpose is to do our part in maintaining the Empire’s great place among the peoples of the world.” Mr Scullin said it was a family gathering. “ When we think of the dinners and lunches we have had, with more to follow, we think Artemus Ward was right when, he said he had drunk so many healths that he was afraid of losing his own. We came here to work, so please let us work. There are people who wonder how the nations of the Bri tish Commonwealth have kept together. Onlookers might think there is something dividing us when we are so busy defining our status, but the greater the freedom the greater the unity. The silken bonds of kinship are stronger than iron bands, and I believe any attempt to replace the silken threads by iron bands will hot help unity.” Mr Scullin said he brought a message from those children of pioneers who were building up a nation but loved the home of their fathers, which they themselves had never seen. It was many years since the hearts of the people of the British Commonwealth had beat so closely together as to-day, “ Let us resolve to build up greater and more lasting prosperity for our people.” Mr Forbes said that his mission was I for the consolidation of the Empire in I this time of difficulty, in which self-help I was an important factor. The main pro blem was finding within the Empire profitable markets for increasing production Admittedly there were difficulties, but the family spirit would give and take I to overcome them. General Hertzog said: “I have no fault to find with the motive .that in duced you to entertain us, or with the desire for advancing good fellowship and I understanding between the parts of the

Empire. That desire I fully share. Take away co-operation and nothing would be left of the British Commonwealth but an empty name. Where good fellowship exists there is no need to seek co-opera-tion with a divining rod. Before 1926 no good South African Nationalist could have supported Imperial co-operation, but to-day I and other Nationalists stand forth as advocates of Imperial co-opera-tion.”—(Cheers). Mr Thom: i summed up the conference’s task as giving practical effect to the elonuent phrases of the evening—- “ prases and perorations do not solve problems.”