SIR JAMES O’GRADY

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18586, 21 December 1934, Page 7

SIR JAMES O’GRADY

ACCEPTANCE OF TITLE

KING'’S GRACIOUS WORDS

LONDON, Dpc. 11

Tho diarist of tlie JOvening Standard gives tho Into Sir Janies (VG rally's own version of 1 is acceptance of the Governorship of Tasmania as follows: The Secretary of State for the Dominions, Mr. J. H. Thomas, in making the offer personally, said: ‘‘ln accordance with precedent, yon will be offered, a K.C.M.G., and, of course, as a good Labor man, you will refuse it. Sir James replied : “I will do nothing ol the sort. If His Majesty is kind enough to honor me, it will be a greater /honor io accept.” “But think of the party, Jim,” said Mr. Thomas. Sir .Tames retorted hotly that the interests of the .party were not concerned. He told the diarist tho story of his visit tc tho Palace to receive his K.C.M.G.

“When I rose to my feet,” said Sir James, “I was overcome with emotion, and for once my tongue left. me. ‘Your Majesty, I do not know .what to say.’ The King put his arm on my shoulder. ‘Don’t, say anything, Sir James. Come and talk to me about cabinet-making; not my kind, but yours.’ ”