The Day That Lunched

With The Queen Sort Of!

From PETER PLOWMAN in Apia

My invitation read that the Secretary to the Government had been instructed by His Highness the Head of State to invite me to a luncheon to be given by His Highness at the Hotel Tusitala in honour of Her Majesty the Queen and His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh.

When it became known that this luncheon for 300 was to be part of the programme for the visit of the Queen, a royal headache developed for the Secretary to the Government.

Hundreds either expected or wanted invitations. Fortunately for the Secretary, 50 per cent of the telephones were out of order due to a heavy rainstorm.

Dressmakers were working around the clock and suits were rushed from the Indian tailors in Suva in anticipation, but many are still on clothes hangers unused.

The luncheon was in the large ballroom fale of the Tusitala.

Tables, each seating 16 guests, were placed lengthwise at a right angle to the official table in the dim distance, from where I and many other guests were seated.

There was an absence of waiters and waitresses and in any case there was little room for them to move between the packed tables.

Then I noticed as I looked at the decorations, that food was already on the table. There were platters of tasty-looking pork but apparently hacked from the pig's carcase with a bush knife dishes of crab meat, crayfish and taros. All covered with cellophane.

I learned later that for those guests seated ‘above the salt' there was an even greater variety of dishes.

In front of each guest was a drinking coconut with a straw, a dish of fruit salad and a glass of wine. The wine was for toasts to be given later by the Queen and the Head of State but it didn’t last the distance.

We were seated shortly after 12 noon and the official guests

were not due to arrive until 12:45.

A beautiful breeze flowed through the fale and did more than 100 fans could have done to keep the waiting guests cool but we were hungry and getting more so. Carefully-prepared coiffures were blown into a state of disarray on uncovered heads. But no one noticed. All eyes were on the f°°d- Guests were requested not to start eating until the Queen began to eat.

At 12.45 word was passed down the tables “She’s coming.

She’s here.’’ And then we stood as a prayerful grace was said.

Prayers are always well heard in Samoa. Both here and above.

Then further word reached us, “ She’s eating,’’ and so did we.

This the Samoans do very well. . . ... . , , .

A timetable had to be kept and a f<i r a reaso fable time the Head oj States voice could be heard in the distance but the words were lost as there was no loud speaker.

This was followed by the Queen’s speech that could only be heard by us occasionally. It was well and plainly heard over the radio by those at home.

We stood as word was passed, “ She’s leaving. ” I was one of the last to leave and wandered out to the entrance of the hotel and passed the empty official table on the way. At least I was able to see where the Royal guests had sat.

In all fairness and considering the tropical conditions, food available, and the hygenic method in which it was served together with staff problems, the luncheon was a credit to the management of the Tusitala.

Very ? ew quests were at the e J] tr ,? nc , e ? s ™ ost dad left for Muhnu u for the next item on the programme. ™ e two cars, imported at great expense for the occasion, were drawn up at the steps and I learnt that our Royal guests had gone to a room to freshen up .

After a wait of 20 minutes, a slight woman with a girlish figure stepped gracefully out and en tered the first car. She was followed by her Duke who en tered the second car. / ad at i ast gH m p Sec ( the Queen of England and the Duke of Edinburgh, I had lunched with Royalty and I have my invitation card to prove it.

The top table the Queen with Head of State Malietea on her left, Tupua Tama sese (member of the Council of Deputies) and Malietoa's sister Salamasina on her right. Samoa Times photo.