THE FRENCH MISSION

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 99, 21 January 1919, Page 6

THE FRENCH MISSION

ADDRESS TO COMMERCIAL TRAVELLERS

ENTHUSIASTIC RECEPTION

Members of the French Mission at present in Wellington accepted aii invitation to deliver addresses yesterday, to members of the Commercial' Travellers' Association. Mr. C Rushford presided over the meeting, wheh was .held in the club-rooms in Victoria Street. .

, Mr. Glanville Jenkins renderedwith spirit the first verse of the "Marseillaise." ,

Dr. Siegfried was received with applause. He expressed regret at the absence of General Pau, but assured the gathering that he would convey to the General the impression of cordial welcome he had received from his entertainment by the association. The part that France had had in the commerce of this country, had in the past been very small, owing to the fact that the French were so little known in . New Zealand. But the boys who had gono to France had learnt'more of the people than the citizens of this- country had known, and they knew that the .Frenchmen were not frivolous, butrwere a serious and honest race. Those who knew anything of the export trade of France knew that when' the French sen.t a sample what followed was generally "according to : sample." (Applause.) The French goods in the future would be of as high a quality as they bad been in the past, and business men would find French firms anxious to dovelop their export trade in tho best way possible. The French wished to keep more closely in touch with the people of New.Zealand. _ He hoped that thepassage of the mission through the country would not be without results. (Hear, hear.) The mission had come to the- conclusion that in the past France had not done enough trade with Australasia, and that now she should do more. He thought that a great future awaited these countries.

Dr. Siegfried was listened to with tho closest attention, and his speech was enthusiastically applauded. M. Leclereq-Motte spoke of tho northern districts of France and of the wholesale rapine and robbery committed by the-Germans there. The proviuces had'stood for four years'between the Hun and tho civilised world. The working population had lived on half rations for four years, and but for their American friends all the people in Northern France would ha-vo starved. Now. -.the people ,_ were com-mencing'work-again,l and-it was "tip to" the business men of New Zealand to assist them to re-establish themselves. They hoped now to increasetheir trade with Australasia, and so build up their commerce once ■ more. New the trade should be between the British and the, French, and the Germans should be kept out. (Loud applause.) • ■'.'•. The gathering passed a hearty vote of thanks to tlie members' of the mission for tho lion on r_ they had dono the club by their visit. A vibit'to. WAINUI. The members of the French Mission were taken by the Mayor and'councillors of Wellington for a trip into-the country by motor yesterday afternoon. Tlie run was to the waterworks at Wainui. At the destination the visitors wero given tea,'and there were a few very short speeches of welcome and acknowledgment. Tlie visitors expressed themselves as oliarmed with the outing. They were especially delighted with the very.fine native liush in -Jic AVairmi area. The members of tho mission present were Dr. Siegfried and. MM. Cbrniere and Le Clercq-Moi*p.. M. Hippeau, Consnl-General .for France In New Zealand,'was.also present.

GENERAL PAU COMING NORTH,

By Telegraph—press Association ;'' Dunedin,, January 20

General Pau left for the,, north by 'the morning-express. He is much benefited by his rest.: - Under medical advice, he will abstain from attending any public functions for some 'time..