SUCCESSFUL FUNCTION.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17566, 17 June 1925, Page 10

SUCCESSFUL FUNCTION.

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE DINNER. Tn order to celebrate the first official v >sit of the Governor-General, Sir Charles Fergusson, and Lady Alice Fergusson. to Christchurch, a dinner was tendered their Excellencies at. Warner's Hotel last evening by the Canterbury ; hamber of Commerce. Owing to the unfortunate illness of his Excellency, his place was taken by her Excellency Lady Alice Fergusson. Upon arrival her Excellency was met by the president of the Chamber, Mr W. Machin, who was accompanied bv the Mayor of Christchurch (Mr T. K. Archer), the Mayor of Dunedin (Mr 11. Livingstone Tapley), Mr E. H. Myles, a past president of the chamber, and Mr .1. D. Hall, president of the North Canterbury Farmers’ Union. After the I National Anthem had been played, the official party was preceded to the official tabic by the pipe-major of the Caledonian Society’s Band, who played a Scottish march. Iler Excellency was accompanied by Major Ilaviland, A.D.C. The walls of the dining-room were decorated with flags, the Union Jack, the Scottish national flag, and the New Zealand ensign being prominent. At the official table were the president, her Excellency, Mrs Machin. Mr and Mrs E. 11. Wvles. Mrs Norton Francis, Mr Archer, Mr Tapley, Mr Ilall and Mr Little. Upon the conclusion of the dinner Mr Machin proposed the toast of his Excellency the Governor-General, with which was coupled the names of the ■Lady Alice Fergusson and Miss Fergusson. Mr Machin said that they were , all sorry that illness had deprived them of the presence of the Governor-General, and they were sorry that they could not hear him. It was not the first time that his Excellency had been detained from fulfilling his engagements in Christchurch, but the speaker hoped that they would soon have the pleasure which had been twice deferred. Tie would ask two boons of her ladyship. It was the custom for her Excellency to become honorary coloiiel of regiments iu the Army, and he would ask her to become honorary colonel of the army of industry which they represented, and to become first patroness of the Canterbury Chamber of Commerce. Tho second boon was to seal' the lips of her three maids of honour. They would not like the Indies of Can- | terburv to know of the proceedings ini j that hall. The Chamber of Commerce ' had a reputation for conducting its business in a dour and unremitting fashion, and it would hardly do to leu the ladies escape to tell of the doings of that night. If there were other than, a recently adopted son of New Zealand in his place "on that occasion, : he would refer to the long line of illustrious Governors of this Dominion who had preceded their Excellencies. There were men present in the hall who could toll of her father, and who could speak of tho good that had lie fallen the Dominion in his time. They would not forget, either, that the father of his Excellency had also been Governor of the Dominion. They had recently had Lord Jcllicoe. who had won a place in the hearts of the people. When one looked hack at the great names who have helped to make New Zealand, one would find the names of their Excellencies, and their illustrious forbears. On rising to reply, her Excellency was greeted with applause and cheers. She said that she was grateful to them for the manner in which they had honoured her husband’s health, and she was sure that so hearty was the response that her husband would be restored to health. Iler liiisband had asked her to tell them how sorry he v as that he could not be present. It ‘

had been said that he was suffering from a. Dunedin cold, but the cold was a Wellington one. She was, very grateful for the opportunity accorded her to be present on that occasion and she wished to thank the Chamber very much for the honour conferred on her in offering her the position of patroness of the Canterbury Chamber of Commerce. As her Excellency had another cngagement, she then left the function, accompanied by the ladies who were : present with her. ' The toast of “The Province of Canterbury- ’ was proposed by the Mayor of-Dunedin, Mr Tapley. He said that he joined in with the Canterbury people in regretting the absence of his Excellency. They were fortunate in having her Excellency, who had taken the place of Sir Charles very well on such an occasion as that. Tic had just had occasion to welcome their Excellencies to the city of Dunedin, and they had endeared themselves to the people of his, city. So long as his Majesty sent out people like Sir Charles and Eadv Eergusson and their predecessors. Lord and Lady Jellicoe, the bonds of Empire would always be cemented. There tion, continued Mr Tapley, and there were difficulties to-day in the political, economic and industrial' fields, but he had faith in the good sense of the Anglo-Saxon race. Violent extremist doctrines were being preached throughout the world, which would only result in the disintegration of the Empire. “We want a national party, one that will stand four square and will resist these pernicious doctrines, added Mr Tapley. “We must keep alive the sacred fires of patriotism, not for vain glory or boasting, or in inspirit of aggrandisement, but, knowing that the peace of the whole world rests on the Empire of which the King is such a fine personal example at the head.’’ The president then accorded a hearty welcome to Mr Archer, staling that it was the first occasion since his election to office that he had favoured the chamber with his presence. The speaker hoped that the visit would not be tin last. In replying on behalf of Canterbury, Mr Archer said that he joined with the Mayor of Dunedin in expressing sympathy in the indisposition that had befallen his Excellency. He also shared the appreciation of those present at the way in which Lady Fergusson had stepped into the breach. He would suggest to the Mayor of Dunedin that in a country like ours and in an Empire like ours, they did not need to be afraid of extremists. They were quite harmless. Most people classed extremists as those who did not hold the same views as themselves. 3n 18/0, when it was proposed to give i an ordinary education to every working boy and girl, there were some who said, and conscientiously believed, that it would lead to the destruction of the British Empire. It was the same iv hen it was proposed to introduce universal franchise. For his own part, he had strong leanings for all that was new, lor it was only by bringing the advanced men and the stagnant men together that they got the happy medium. In proposing the toast of the Chamber of Commerce, Mr J. I). Hall, president of the North Canterbury Farmers’ Union, said that he wished to take the opportunity to welcoming to Canterbury their Excellencies. The people in Canterbury would appreciate it very much if their Excellencies could get into the country districts. The only visible link between the Dominion and the Motherland that the people of the country could realise was their Excellencies. There was a very deep-seated feeling in the country districts of allegiance to the throne. Items were given during the evening by'the Christchurch Lyric Four (Messrs T. S. Morgan, 11. Blakeley, K. More and E. J. Johnson), Mr F. C. Penfold, Mill. Blkkeley and Mr A. Dev.