Full text: Report of the banquet and luncheon given in honour of the representatives of the Dominions, India and the Crown Colonies attending the Imperial Economic Conference, London, Wednesday, 24th October, 1923

  
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mentioning Mr. Massey (cheers), who is, I believe, what the 
writers in the Press call “ The Father of the Conference.” 
(Cheers.) He has attended many conferences ; he knows them 
well, and I can only say that if the time ever arrives—and I 
suppose such a time must arrive—when Mr. Massey may not 
be able to attend these conferences, I trust that he will find 
a successor upon whom to bestow his mantle who will be as 
useful and as helpful in showing the true Imperial spirit as 
Mr. Massey has always been. (Cheers) I couple with 
the Toast the health of my distinguished friend and colleague, 
Mr. Mackenzie King, the Prime Minister of Canada. (Cheers.) 
I am quite confident that in him we see a man who realises to 
the full, not merely the title of the Commonwealth of British 
Nations, but who also realises its responsibility and its oppor- 
tunities. At the present time we are outlining temporary expe- 
dients by which we may be able to overcome certain present 
difficulties. We believe that, at the time of the War, the 
British Empire was one of the greatest factors the world has 
ever seen. We are equally confident that the British Empire, 
in time of peace, can be the greatest factor for the preserva- 
tion of the peace of the world and the opportunity it gives 
for increased happiness and prosperity. (Cheers.) Mr. 
Mackenzie King represents a great Dominion with which 
I had the privilege and the happiness of being associated for 
a few years during an interesting period of our history 
(Cheers), and he will, I am confident, return to his Dominion 
fully assured that we in the old land are anxious to work in 
the closest co-operation with them. (Cheers.) We appreciate 
the problems which they have to face. We know that the 
conditions there may be very different from what they may 
be in the old country, but yet, by the frank exchange of views, 
by a closer knowledge and appreciation of the problems which 
face us, we can do something which will tend to the mutual 
benefit of us all. (Cheers) In Mr. Mackenzie King we 
have a Minister holding a great position, who by tradition, 
by training and by experience is well-qualified not merely to 
take a leading position in his own country, but who is 
a worthy, a useful and a distinguished member fit to take 
a place in the Councils of the Commonwealth of British 
Nations. [ask you to drink the health of the Commonwealth 
of British Nations, coupled with the name of Mr. Mackenzie 
King. (Loud cheers.) 
The Toast was enthusiastically honoured. 
The Rt. Hon. W. L. MACKENZIE KING, C.M.G., M.P. 
(Prime Minister of Canada), who was received with loud 
cheers on rising to respond, said: Mr. President, Your Highness, 
My Lords and Gentlemen, I thank you very cordially indeed 
  
 
	        
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