EMPIRE TRIBUTES TO KING

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXIX, Issue 20102, 8 May 1935, Page 9

EMPIRE TRIBUTES TO KING

POPULAR REJOICING ABROAD NOTABLE MESSAGES FROM MANY LANDS United Press Association--By Electric Telegre ph —Copyright CAPETOWN. May 6. Brilliant sunshine favoured the Silver Jubilee celebrations here. The public thronged the city and participated in a long programme, ranging from thanksgiving services to race meetings. The streets were given over to the crowds parading past the decorated buildings, and watching the troops pass. The Governor-General, Lord Clarendon, who lately suffered a tragic bereavement, curtailed his participation in the festivities. Nevertheless, he attended two church services, and the naval and military review. General Smuts, Acting-Prime Minister, was the chief figure at crowded and enthusiastic meetings of citizens to endorse the loyal address. Every back-veldt village throughout South Africa celebrated the occasion. The natives of Swaziland participated in an impressive gathering at the capital, where the paramount chief made a loyal speech. To-night, dense crowds thronged the streets of Capetown, seeing the illuminations, which are on a splendid scale. Impressive military and air force displays were given at Johannesburg, Pretoria and Salisbury.

MR FORBES’S IMPRESSIONS KING ACCLAIMED BY MILLIONS United Dress Association—By Electric Telegraph-^Copyright LONDON, May 6. “I have never seen a greater assemblage. Its enthusiasm, goodwill and affection towards their Majesties after 25 years, was unexampled,” said Mr G. W. Forbes, Prime Minister of New Zealand, relating his impressions of the procession. “Mrs Forbes and myself were vividly impressed by the millions lining the routes, all smiling and waving hands, forgetting their cares and troubles. It was one of the most friendly crowds we have ever seen. The most wonderful tribute to their Majesties was the fact that millions came entirely on their own initiative. The utmost good spirit prevailed throughout, despite the heat and fatigue of waiting all night.” Mr Forbes was equally impressed by the quiet, simple dignity with which the St. Paul’s thanksgiving ceremony was carried out. “I had not previously met Mr J. A. Lyons, Prime Minister of Australia,” Mr Forbes told the “Sun-Herald” News Service correspondent, in describing their informal meeting at St. James’ Palace. In the morning, as they were leaving the cars preparatory to entering the landaus, they sighted each other, and shook hands. “It is remarkable,” said Mr Forbes, “because we have both been Prime Ministers for several years, and I actually visited Australia. We stay at the same hotel here. My room is directly above Mr Lyons’s.”

EMPIRE DINNER MR MACDONALD’S FINE TRIBUTE United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph —Copyright LONDON, May 6. The Prime Minister, Mr Ramsay MacDonald, presided at the British Government jubilee dinner at Claridge’s Hotel, in honour of the Dominion and Indian guests. Mr G. W. Forbes and M'rs Forbes, Sir James Parr and all the Australian Ministers and their wives were present. Tribute to the King Mr Ramsay Macdonald, speaking at the dinner, emphasised that through the troubled years of the war, and the years when the nation’s qualities were tested to recover from economic destruction, the King had been wearing a heavy crown, with real dignity, graciousness, human understanding, and feeling of anxiety. His advisers had come and gone, but he had no respite. “We thank him for his actions and example,” added Mr Macdonald. “We also pay homage to her whose counsel and comfort cheered him throughout the reign. May their years together be long and happy.” “England fend the English” was Rudyard Kipling’s toast at the Royal Society of Saint George dinner. He said: “Seven hundred and fifty thousand of Britain’s 800,000 dead in the war were Englishmen. Britain recently realised her defencelessness and it has been arranged to remedy the more obvious deficiencies, but if the time was insufficient, Britain might join the submerged races of history. Our strength and hope was the ruling House, which through mother, son and grandson had met the hazards of the present and consolidated and prepared for the future.”

ORIENTAL SPLENDOUR WONDERFUL CELEBRATION IN INDIA United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright (Received May 7, 7.15 p.m.) LONDON, May 6. The Delhi correspondent of “The Times' states that in all States from Khyber Pass to Trvandrum, the Indians celebrated the jubilee with Oriental splepdour, Indians vieing with Europeans in displaying loyalty. The