THE QUEEN'S FUNERAL.

Timaru Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 3559, 11 May 1901, Page 4

THE QUEEN'S FUNERAL.

MR KEIR HARD.IE GRUMBLES. . In the House of Commons on March 25th, Mr Keir Hardie criticised the Government stationery. The hideous black border was offensive both to eye and taste. If mourning was to be used, something in better taste should be used._ The hbn. 'member"said be had no'objection to. the funeral ceremony of the late Queen. His objection was entirely as to the manner in "which the money was expended. He protested' in the strongest manner possible against the head of a constitutional State being buried with military honours", to the total exclusion of the whole civil arid religious life of the community. He had the of occupying a' position in one of the stands allotted to members of that House, and he recalled it with a feeling of shame. The dignified part which the representatives of the people- were called upon to play in the funeral service of England's greatest Queen was to ; stand on tiptoe on a stand some thirty yards away from the procession in order to get a glimpse of it as it passed along. : Whoever wras responsible for the making of these arrangements was guilty of an 'insult to the' nation at large, and in- particular to the House of Commons. The leading characteristic of the late Queen was that of domestic simplicity, and it seemed to him a mockery that the last ceremony in connection with the passing o{ the Queen should have taken the form of a huge military display, a pageant, a show, from which all simplicity was absent, and all feelings of reverence were all. but impossible. ' The dead body of England's! Queen was made a recruiting sergeant to help the military business that was now being tarried! into effect, while the House of ConiT mons was ignored and passed over.