MR. T. M. WILFORD, M.P. RETURNS

Dominion, Volume 20, Issue 56, 30 November 1926, Page 10

MR. T. M. WILFORD, M.P. RETURNS

AFTER VISIT TO ENGLAND. Mr. T. M. Wiliord, M.P. for Hutt, accompanied by Mrs .Wilford, returned to Wellington yesterday by the Maheno, from a visit to England and the Continent. During the parliamentary session of 1925. Mr. Wiliord suffered a break-down in health, and left Welling ton in October of that year. He has returned, after an absence of 13 months, greatly benefited in health. “I feel like a new man,” eaid Mr. Wilford, to a Dominion representative on the vessel's arrival. Mrs. Wilford ie also very well, and during the few months of our stay in England enjoyed herself thoroughly, receiving many kindnesses at the hands of prominent political hostesses. She was also presented at the Buckingham Palace garden party to their Majesties the King and Queen. I, myself, had had the pleasure of being presented at. an earlier date, with the members of the International Parliamentary Conference. I spent my time between Parliament and the law courts mostly, and became personally acquainted with the Ministers of the Crown, the leaders of the Liberal Party, and the Labour Party, and many of the rank and file." Mr. Wilford status that one of the most interesting experiences he had was during the visit with Sir Thomas Mackenzie to the International Parliamentary Conference. They represented the New Zealand Parliamentary Association. The conference was held at Westminster, lasted a week, and was attended by the representatives of 14 nations. The debates related to world affairs, world production, and the use of the products of the world. Italy, China, Japan. Germany, France, Belgium, and Czecho-Slovakia sent live representatives to the assembly, and the conference closed with a lunch at Christ Church, Oxford University, presided over bv Lord Birkenhead. Mr. Wilford also attended a dinner given by the Government, oyer which Mr. Winston Churchill presided, in the Royal Gallery of the House of Lords, the Prince of Wales being the principal guest. “I met Lord Jellicoe in the House of Lords,” said Mr. Wilford, "and I can truly say that his love fqi New Zealand is as genuine to-day as it was when ho was here. I wag invited to his home and neither Mrs. Wilford nor I shall ever forget his kindness." Mr. Wilford attended discussions at the Empire Parliamentary rooms on interImperial trade, and in short speeches advocated the slogan, "Keep the money in the family.". At the invitation of Mr. Baldwin, the Prime Minister of Great Britain, Mr. Wilford attended at Downing Street, and discussed with him matters affecting New Zealand. He also discussed with the Right Hon. L. M. S. Amery the question of the Singapore base, and of the naval defence of the Pacific. "The thing that struck me most.” said Mr. Wilford. "was that while Britain had lost industrially between £400.000.«M) and £500.000,000 since the beginning of the coal strike, the British pound sterling bad kept its head up alongside tho American dollar, notwithstanding the great prosperity of the American nation.” Mr. Wilford travelled 3000 miles through France, all through the country districts. and found no unemployment. All the people were working, and production was intensive, The land was held largely in small areas, . and they had had wonderful crops this year.