NEW YORK HOSTESS TO VISIT NEWZEALAND

Chronicle (Levin), 30 October 1946, Page 6

NEW YORK HOSTESS TO VISIT NEWZEALAND

NAPIER, Oet. 27. New York liostess to kundreds of New Zealaud service personnel, and a New Zealander whose name beeame well-known in this country during World War II, Miss Nola Luxford is expected to arrive by air from Auckland at tKe Becons aerodrome at 1.10 on Wednesday afternoon, November 13. Miss Luxford after visiting her mother, Mrs. A. Pratt, in Hastings, is to be tlie guest of the New Zealand Government on a tour of the Dominion for the purpose of meeting next-of-kin of servicemen whom she entertained in New York. At present she is in Australia. It is 10 years since Miss Luxford was last in Hawlce's Bay. Miss Luxford was for a time in iilms in the United Wtates, and following tliat she took up free lance journalism and contributed articles to several well-known Ameri?an newspajiers and magazines. While doing this work, Miss Luxford also took a prominent role in broadcasting. She lias at all times been a worthy ambassador for New Zea land aml'has been instrumental in giving this country a great deal of publicity in the TJnited States. Shortly after the inauguration of the Empire Air Training Scheme in Canada, and the eousequent influx of New Zealand airmen on leave to New York, Miss Luxford, with other New Zealanders, founded the Anzae Club in the city. and it was there that she acted as liostess to hundreds of Dominion servicemen while on leave. ' . Miss Luxford 's aetivities in the direction soon received publicity in New Zealand iu hundreds of letters from servicemen praising her kiiidness hnd generosity. Her return to New Zealand is thus the signal for personal thanlo by the next-of-kin of those whom she eiLtertained. Miss Luxford is expected to remain in Hastings from Wednesday, Novem ber 13, to Saturdav, November 10. On thu Thursday and Priday she will meet next-of-kin and servicemen in Napier and Hastings, and will address pubiic meetings. Although no fmal arrangements have yet been made, it is understood that a eivio reception is to be arranged in Napier in connection with the meeting with ex-servicemen and llicir next-of-kin. Miss Luxford is a sister of Mrs. C. B. Spinuey, of Hastings, and Mr. Good will Pratt, of Palmerston North. Miss Luxford will be arriving in Palmerston North from Auckland by plane at 9.43 a.iii., November 13, proeceding to Napier by" planc at 12.20 p.m. the same duy. iSlic returms to Palmerston North on Ihe night of November 17 and goes on to Wellington on the inorning of November 20.