HOSPITALITY TO N.Z. TROOPS ACKNOWLEDGED

Chronicle (Levin), 26 May 1947, Page 3

HOSPITALITY TO N.Z. TROOPS ACKNOWLEDGED

AUCKLAND, May 25. A number of changes had taken plaee in New Zealand during his 33 years' absence, but loyalty to the Crown had not. wavered. Indeed, it was stronger now than it had ever been, said tne Governor-General addressing a large gathering at the annual Empire Day reception held by the Auckland branch of the Royal Empire Society on Saturday night. His -Excellency, who was accompanied by Lady Freyberg, said after the war he prepared a list oi naines of people ' who had helped oi given hospitality to members of the New Zealand armed forces so that a letter of thanks could be sent to them. These people included English people in Egypt who worked in service clubs, Greeks and Cretans' who helped our men during the war and people who worked in New Zealand Clubs in Britain. When he sought the names of British people who extended hospitality to our troops, however, he found the task difficult. One Empire Society had arranged for servicemen to be entertained in no fewrer than 91,000 British ; homes.. Furthermore, for every officially arranged visit there were many cases of hospitality given to our troops that had been arranged by the peoplM themselves. N He knew of one case where at a small home 500 Australian, New Zealand or Norwegian troops had stayed, and this in spite of the fact that the people were so heavily rationed. While he hesitated to mention individuals, Sir Beruard said he must pay special tribiite to the work of Lord Milne at the Empire rendezvous where siglit-seeing toiirs and special itineraries had been arranged. He referred also to the hostels organised in London and Edinburgh for Empire trOops by the Duchess of Devonshire and service clubs arranged by Lady Wellington The efforts of Sir Jocelyn Lucas in ar ranging parties at which eolonial people met people in the, United Kingdom also did mueh to foster better Empire rela tionships. The 150,000 New Zealand troops that went overseas were entertained. at clubs in Austraiia, Egypt, New York and Washington. Empire troops stuek together regardless of their country of origin, colour or creed, said his Excellency. The Eighth Army was as representative a force as had ever been formed in the Empire, eomprising divisions from South Af'rica, Anstralia, New Zealand, Scotland, Yorkshire and India. They met in their spare time and, Sir Bernard said, he now felt he had friends in every part of the British Empire. At the end ot the war it was closer together than it had ever been before.

Referring to the United Kingdom, Sir Bernard said one could not judge the country from the West End of London. Its great strength lay in the Midlands, the north and the manufacturing areas A visit to these parts showed whai solidarity existed. There was a lot oi tallc about the country being finished. It was the only nation that would discuss its faults with others and that might give rise to these statements. Britain was like a young man who had lost all his savings but still possessea skill and energy. Sueh a man could not be held down. His Excellency said he had examined the plants in New Zealand factories and found most of the machinery was British. The reason for its preference was that it was often the best and/or cheapest, but it had also been stated that New Zealand must support the Motherland because if she fell the Dominion would also fall,