FIRST IMPRESSIONS

Press, Volume LXXXII, Issue 24896, 8 June 1946, Page 6

FIRST IMPRESSIONS

U.S. MINISTER VISITS CHRISTCHURCH

“If you get me a house here, I will move in and go back to Wellington whan I .have to,” said the United States Minister to New Zealand (the Hon. Avra M. Warren) in praising Christchurch to members of the Canterbury Chamber of Commerce yesterday. Mr Warren and several members of his staff flew from Wellington to attend a luncheon and returned to Wellington in the afternoon. “Coming fresh into Christchurch, it was interesting to get the impression of Christchurch from the outside, and I do want to say how richly you seem to be endowed,” said Mr Warren. “You have this lovely city nestling at the foot of the plains with the hills behind you, and the countryside speaks of its own wealth, which has helped to give this city some of the strength, culture, and charm it has. Before I came here I heard of Christchurch as the place to live in in New Zealand ”

The cleanliness of the city, the width of the streets, the beautiful large domain, and the large number of bicycles had impressed him, said Mr Warren He had thought for a moment that he was in Copenhagen, where four times a day the citizens rode past on their bicycles. He had gathered that the cyclists in Christchurch had the complete right of way in traffic. (Laughter.)