SIR PATRICK DUFF WELCOMED

Chronicle (Levin), 5 March 1946, Page 6

SIR PATRICK DUFF WELCOMED

PALMERSTON NORTH VISIT Paying their first .oliicial visit to Palmerston Nortli, Sir Patrick DulE, K.C.B., K.C.V.O., High Commissioner for the United Kingdom in New Zealand, and his wif'e, Eady Dulf, were the guests at a iargely-attended and representative civic reception lield m the City Council Chambers yesterdav, and later at a civic luncheon. liis Worship the Mayor (Alr. A. E. Alanst'ord) presided at both gatherings. Extending a weicome to the visitors on behalf of the citizens of the dis trict, Alr. Alansford referred to tlie distinguished career of Sir Patrick who, he said, had served overseas with distinetion during World War I. Si: Patrick had twiee been mentioned in dispatehes aml was wounded in France. After the war, Sir Patrick had rejomed Ihe civil service and became privatc secretary at 10 Downing Street where he was associated with five dill'erem administrations. Between 1941 and 1944, he had been deputy High Com missiouer in Cauada, and in 1945 was appointed High Commissioner in New Zealand. He had been a rej)reseufative ' liockev player, and had also gained prominence in tennis, cricket and Rugby. Following tlie Alavor's address, the AlayoreSs presented Lady Dui'f with a ] slioulder spray featuring an orchid. Addresses of weicome were also given by Alr. J. Hodgens, inember for the dis trict, Alr. W. R. Hopcroft, chairmaii of

the Kairanga Couuty Louncil, Afr. t3. J Jacobs, Dominion president of the New Zealand R.S.A., and the Iion. Rangi Aloffat, Al.L.C., representing tlie Alaori people. " \Ve come from a Britain which has taken liard knocks but which is t'orging her way to recovery; the rale of our success is a matter of nioment to otJiers far beyond the borders of Britain her self, " declared Sir Patrick when repiy iug to the siieeclies of weicome. A strong Britain, he said, was indispensable both for world peaee and world prosperity, because she was the world 's greatest trader, if imports and experts were taken combined. The importance of Britain 's recovery to a sound economical positiou was stressed by the speaker who said that if Britain .was uot prosperous an otherwise linutless source of gainful return for tlie indus try of the rest of the world was shrunken and dned up. and the hope of fiu 1 1 employment in other nations was endangereil. "We salute the majestic and signui "ontribution which the miglit of Hti' U.S. made to winning the war; but it is' perhaps naturai for uss in Britain to reliect that Britain "s present needs are the direct consequence of the fact that we fought the earliest, the longest and the liardest," said Siij Pat-rick. " 11 *vus to our e Torts in the eonimon cause hat the privutions we now suiTer — aml sulfer alone — are due. "From this point of view. anil, quitc (ILspassionatchv, from tlie point of view of the restoration of world prosperity, we cannot be unduly enthusiastic over Ihe terms of the financial arrangemonts !)etween the United Kingdom aml America which are now umler debate. Whatever bel'alls, you can tako it from me that Britain will face u p to Uio situation with the self-reliance aml Ihe valiancc whicA belong to her character. "The British people possossed at liome some raw materi.il for manufac Juring salvation. aml some raw matenal for producing progress for themselves aml for others — matorial which did not luivo to be imported, bought ar oorrowed, liut which lav deep and thick, solid and eterual in the unfathoinablc .niues of the British character. That stulf was called eouragc. " It is from a Britain that has ncver had more conlidence in herself than now that we bring you greetings, and a cheer for, the onvvard patii," eonclud ed Sir Patrick.