GUILDHALL BANQUET

Southland Times, Issue 21101, 5 June 1930, Page 5

GUILDHALL BANQUET

EMPIRE PRESS DELEGATES.

PRIME MINISTER’S SPEECH.

(United Press Assn.—By Telegraph—Copyright.)

London, June 3

Mr MacDonald, speaking at the Guildhall banquet to the delegates attending the conference of the Empire Press Union, said that 40 years ago Professor Samuel Alexander 0.M., gave him an introduction to the late Mr Courtney, who asked him to write a leader on the spread of influenza in Central Europe, and the reception of that leader drove him into politics. ‘‘The Daily Telegraph did not lose much,” said Mr MacDonald, “I lost the Daily Telegraph. I am obliged to Lord Riddell for suggesting that I might make a return journey. I’ll remember that when the time comes.”

Mr T. Fink (Australia) said the development of nationality in the dominions raised many new problems. The Empire was an ever growing organism and statesmen must meet the changing needs.

The Hon. Esmond Harmsworth, a slim, dark youth who admitted that he was not old enough to attend the last conference, said the lead for the Imperial Conference should come from overseas and the Press should prepare the way for the Imperial Conference. Many believed that a stronger rope than sentiment would be needed to keep the Empire together. He predicted that the time was not far distant when a newspaper might wireless its whole contents from England .to Australia.. Mr T. W. MacKenzie (South Africa) described African patriotism as deep and sincere, though perhaps not so loud-toned as elsewhere. If the Empire was to be held together by ropes it must very carefully choose the rope. A silken rope of trust, friendship and respect was the strongest.

Mr Orundson Fletcher said the only thing they could not get ready-made was the thing with the roots. The Empire grew from roots and was still a long way from maturity. If they could get the youth of Australia and the Empire thinking and actinv all would be well.

Captain Wedgwood Benn, a member of the Cabinet, said India rightly asked for recognition of equal status for Indians. The problem was very difficult. Force could not provide a remedy, though the law must be enforced. Far from using a policy of dividing the Indian people the Government was trving to secure racial and religious harmony. If the principle of British domination or exploitation were adopted the days of British rule in India would be numbered.

NEED FOR CO-OPERATION

STATESMEN AND JOURNALISTS

London, June 3.

Addressing the Press delegates as “My friends,” Mr MacDonald pleaded most eloquently and briefly, since his speech lasted only 15 minutes, for co-operation between statesmen and journalists in solving the problem of how to combine national freedom with' social development. TJjey had to merge the Imperial spirit rule into the commonwealth spirit counsel. They had to do these things in the Commonwealth of Nations and yet extend the hand of fellowship and co-operation to the rest of the world. Journalists on one side and himself and Major Astor—for though they differed on many things both were members of the House of Commons—on the other had to conspire together to contribute to'the solution of these problems. Lord Riddell described Mr MacDonald as the “Dean of our Gothic Cathedral,” and said he would have made an excellent Archbishop of Canterbury. The motto of the conference was “Let us all stick together.” Whether they did it by weaving words or by' some kind of cement was immaterial. If Mr MacDonald had taken his speech to Fleet Street Lord Riddell said he would have been very glad to syndicate it. It was good stuff. Lord Riddell concluded'by saying that in listening to Major Astor at the Guildhall, he seemed to hear the ghost of Lord Rosebery speaking. DELEGATES MEET PRINCE. (Rec. 7 p.m.) London, June 3. The Press Conference delegates were presented to the Prince of Wales at a reception given at-Gridgewater House by the Earl and Countess of Ellesmere. The Prince showed keen interest in Australia and New Zealand, recalling incidents of his tour of those countries.