FOR NEW ZEALAND

Southland Times, Issue 20208, 20 June 1927, Page 7

FOR NEW ZEALAND

MR AMERY’S VISIT HONOURED AT N.Z. ANNUAL DINNER BISHOP OF LONDON’S IMPRESSIONS OF DOMINION (By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright.) London, June 17. There were four hundred enthusiastic guests at the New Zealand annual din.ner at the Mayfair Hotel, Sir James Parr presiding. Mr. L. C. Amery was the chief guest and the others were Viscount Jellicoe, brilliantly bemedalled, Sir Joseph Cook, Sir Janies Mills, Lord Islington, Lord Haig, the Bishop of London, the Earl of Liverpool, the Hon. John Huxham, Mr Robert Bell, Mr P. A. Brett, Admiral Bell, Generals Chaytor and t urse and Mr. Peter Larken and many shipping, banking and produce representatives, including Lord Vestey. The menu which was outstandingly characteristic included Toheroa soup, rainbow trout sent from Mr Coates at the request of Sir James Parr, Canterbury lamb, passion fruit and ice. A sensation was created on the appearance of the ice in the image of a kiwi. The floral decorations included pohutakawa, nativq ferns, flax, rimu, saplings and nikau palms. Sir James Parr bade Mr Amery “God speed” on his Dominions visit and invited him to essay an ascent of Mount Cook. Mr Amery’s legal and journalistic training fortified by his military and political career enabled him to soundly appreciate the Dominion temperament. Only good could result from a visit to the Dominion by a statesman of such calibre. Others should follow his example. Mr. Amery, amid cheers and cries of “Kia Ora” said that there appeared to be an M rtist in ice. Last year he thought those attending the dinner would be ed by the ice kangaroo but to-night’s artist was on safer ground with the kiwi. The Imperial Conference had demonstrated that the Empire was not an administration governed from one centre but a Commonwealth under a common crown. The Bishop of London said it was one of the cheeriest dinners he had ever attended and he hoped it would make all the other visitors go to New Zealand. He referred to the glorious warm-hearted welcome he received, especially at Christchurch from the Mayor and Baptist minister, a,Labour member, and a jolly good fellow, too. The Bishop said he never felt more at home than in New Zealand, whose Archbishops and Bishops were the finest he had met during- his trip round the world. It had been reported, he said, in a letter to the Times, that after seeing the GovernorGeneral, the Prime Minister and the Labour Party in New Zealand he formed the opinion that only ten thousand people could go to New Zealand. He wished to make it clear that the Governor-General had never said anything about migration.—A. and N.Z. SIR JOSEPH COOK FAREWELLED. London, June 17. Sir James Parr interpolated a farewell toast to Sir Joseph Cook (High Commissioner for Australia), saying he was sure all would join in wishing him many years of activity and usefulness. Lord Jellicoe, proposing the toast of “The Chairman,’ assured him of the sympathy of every New Zealander in carrying out his important work. In the intervals between conferences it was desirable that British Ministers should go out and get a personal touch with overseas colleagues. This applied particularly to the Secretary for the Dominions. Mr Amery said he had the most pleasurable anticipation of what his visit to New Zealand would mean. He recalled his visit thither in 1913, and hoped to extend his mountaineering exploits which then were confined to Mt. Eden. He hoped to meet his colleagues who were building up New Zealand, which little nation, with the great heart of Anzac, had demonstrated her courage as he had seen when visiting Russell’s Post in the days when all deemed victory was near. New Zealand’s Samoan administration was a true exemplification of the mandate. MR PEMBER REEVES IN HUMOROUS VEIN. The Hon. W. Pember Reeves, proposing the toast of “The Visitors,” stated that Mr D. Hay (manager of the New Zealand cricket team) was sitting opposite Lord Jellicoe and suggested that if Mr Lowry (captain of the New Zealand cricket team) wanted help he should send out an S.O.S. for Lord Jellicoe, who was a notable batsman. The Bishop of London was a “fisher of men,” for which reason he should have enjoyed the notable trout fishing in New Zealand. Mr Amery’s New Zealand visit should increase his eloquence. Mr Reeves also paid tribute to Sir Joseph Cook and to Colonel Gray as the “Antipodean Adam” who tempted the “British Eve” with New Zealand apples.—A. and N.Z. and Sun.