NATION’S ADDRESS TO KING

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXIX, Issue 20104, 10 May 1935, Page 9

NATION’S ADDRESS TO KING

ELOQUENT TRIBUTES OF ALL PARTIES NOTABLE SPEECH BY LABOUR LEADER United Press Association —Be Electric Telegraph—Copyright LONDON, May 8. Lord Hailsham, Lord Ponsonby, Lord Reading and the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr. Cosmo Lang, spoke in support of the address to the King. Submitted to the House of Lords, Lord Ponsonby said that through all the troublous times, the King had, stood as a symbol of reliability and constancy which was a sure reflection of the good character of the British people. The joumeyings of the King's sons had increased the affection for the Royal Family throughout the world. Lord Reading said it was a worthy reflection that the expansion of democracy in Britain had led to the strengthening and cementing of the loyalty and devotion of the people to the Throne. PEOPLE’S THANKSGIVING MEMORABLE SERVICE AT ALBERT HALL United Press Association—By Electrlo Telegraph—Copyright LONDON, May 8. Albert Hall contained an audience of 8000, and might have been filled five times with those desirous of attending the United Jubilee Thanksgiving Service, organised by the World's Evangelical Alliance. Fifty clerics and Salvationists surrounded the Duke of Kent on the platform. Sir James Farr, Lord Stradbroke and Sir William Birdwood were present. The fervent singing of the National Anthem, led by a choir of 1000, accompanied by the gigantic organ, shook the roof. The Bishop of Norwich, who presided, said it was a family festival of the whole Empire, which was unequalled in history. The Duke of Kent read a message from the King, acknowledging the audience’s telegram of loyalty, and cited the King's utterance that the foundations of British national glory were set In the home of the people. Bishop Taylor Smith offered the prayer of thanksgiving for his Majesty's increasing service to the Empire. General Sir William Birdwood read the lesson, and Lord Bledisloe testified to New Zealand's loyalty. The Bishop of Norwich terminated a moving meeting with an act of homage in the form of an Empire call to thanksgiving.

“LONG MAY THEY REIGN” PARLIAMENTARY TRIBUTE TO KING United Press Association—By Electrlo Telegraph—Copyright (Received May 9, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, May 8. In the House of Commons, Mr George Lansbury (Leader of the Opposition) seconding the address to the King described the King’s broadcast on Monday as unsurpassed in the history of monarchs. That his Majesty should have remembered the unemployed on such an occasion, stamped him as very human. Mr Lansbury added, that though a Socialist through and through, he always believed in the destiny of the British people. He hoped the young men and women of the Empire would lead the world in upholding individual and international freedom and liberty, away from war and the trust therein. Mr Lloyd George supporting the resolution said there had been no more remarkable scenes in living memory than the pa 'st few days’ demonstration of gratitude and deep affection for his Majesty. It was a celebration of triumph for Democratic Government under the King’s leadership. Despite the economic depression, the condition of the people had improved and the nation’s wealth was the envy of the world. There were few other countries and no empires of which this could be said. No wonder the people of every class and condition, universally prayed that the beneficent reign would long continue. LOYAL FERVOUR IN LONDON ROUSING RECEPTIOIN OF % ROYALTY United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright (Received May 9, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, May 8. Loyal fervour again rose to the highest pitch among 50,000 assembled at Buckingham Palace, where the King and Queen appeared on the balcony, causing the crowd to surge across the road, waving hats and umbrellas. The Duke of Gloucester joined his parents and the trio remained ten minutes, bowing and waving to the crowd. West End traffic is as congested as ever, an endless stream of vehicles moving at a snail’s pace. Miss Betty Baxter, a clergyman’s grand-daughter, aged twenty-four, and known as the Siver Lady of the Embankment, gave a dinner to 600 down and out men and women at Westminster Hall.

The King, upon learning that the 600 were drinking their Majesties health in tea telegraphed his thanks As they left the hall, each man and woman was given a ticket for a free

bed and breakfast. Miss Baxter maintains a free coffee stall in Trafalgar Square, which nightly is a god-send to the destitute.

THE CAUSE OF PEACE KING’S REPLY TO HERR HITLER United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright BERLIN, May 8. The King, replying to Herr Hitler’s message of congratulation on the attainment of his Sliver Jubilee, said: “I am especially grateful for your friendly reference to the efforts of myself and my Government in the interests of peace. The cause of peace is extremely dear to me, and it is the constant aim of my Government. I reciprocate your good wishes for the success of this cause. I trust that I express not only the feelings of my people, but those of the whole civilised world.” THANKS TO NATIONS HIS MAJESTY REVIEWS TIES OF EMPIRE MANY CLIMES—ONE SPIRIT British Official Wireless (Received May 9, 6.30 p.m.) RUGBY, May 8. The King’s thanks to the nations of the world were expressed at the levee which his Majesty held’ at St. James’s Palace. Congratulations on behalf of the Diplomatic Corps were presented by the Doyen Senator Regis de Oliviera, Brazilian Ambassador, by the Empire Prime Ministers, by India through Mr Ramsay Macdonald, and on behalf of the Colonial Empire by Sir Philip Cunliffe-Lister.

The King, in reply to the Diplomatic Corps, said that he and the Queen were deeply touched by the warmth and sincerity of their good wishes, and “I pray God that the unity of purpose which has brought you here today may be a symbol of enduring peace in the world at large.” The King prefaced his reply to the Empire with a welcome to their representatives. “We welcome one and all to our home,” he said. Proceeding, he said: “Eventful your visit cannot fail to be. I trust it will be happy also, and when the time comes for your return I would ask your to take back each to his own people a message of affection to every member of this great family of which I am so proud and thankful to be the head, and a message of deep gratitude for the loyal, kind words which you have spoken cn their behalf. Before I succeeded my father, the Queen and I had the privilege of studying at first hand the Dominions overseas and India. We were fellow travellers then, as now, comparing notes and sharing our impressions. We treasure these memories and keep them alive. Moreover, what we forget our four sons are now able to recall. ‘

“Many years before our happy partnership began, I had as midshipman sailed the Seven Seas. I realised early that the Empire has many climes, but one spirit. I regard this as a unique gathering, where we can tell one (another of our successes and also of our failures and mistakes, but there will be no sharp criticism nor vain regrets, for we are in sympathy one with another and conscious that we have acted according to our rights for the good name and ordered prosperity of the family.

“We are sometimes told that we are lacking in logic and that our political institutions are loose and undefined, but I look back on the trying and testing time through which we have passed

and wonder whether a less flexible system would have withstood the strains to which we have been subjected. With commonsense and goodwill as our shield and buckler we have kept, in spite of all difficulties, our heritage of liberty alike for the individual and for our many constituent races. The numberless and invisible ties of sentiment and tradition which bind us together are indeed delicate, but many strands make a cable strong to bind in times of adversity. It is my prayer no less than my firm belief that this bond of spirit may prove also a bond of peace. “Some of you are, with a few happy exceptions, about my own age. I pray for the continuance of God’s blessing on your labours, and with His help I will work on with you in the years that remain for that object which ever has been next to my heart—the welfare of the Mother Country, of the Dominions overseas, and of India, and their happiness and good repute.”