WELCOMED HOME

Dominion, Volume 33, Issue 185, 2 May 1940, Page 7

WELCOMED HOME

Marquess Of Willingdon Entertained A welcome back from New Zealand was extended to the Marquess of Willingdon by the New Zealand Group of the Overseas League at Overseas House. London, recently. Lady Willingdon was unable to be present because of indisposition, Lord Willingdon referred to their slay in the Dominion irs "tin inspiring visit.” T'ite High Commissioner, Mr. .ibrdan. said it "’as more limn evident that both Lord and Lady Willingdon It,'id ondetired themselves to lite people of New Zealand, who had been delighted witli the visit and the interest they had taken in lite Dominion's affaire. particularly those of the Maoris. Lord Willingdon replied that most of ids time in New Zealand had been spent, living, because of the shortness ol ids visit.’ but when lie had come down to earth lie hail invariably found himself welcomed by a mayor, taken to ir civic reception, and shown the greatest kindness. New Zealanders, lie said, wen- in the war as loyal subjects of the King, but they also realized that they were fighting for liberty, Christianity and right. In Austrirlia. he had had the same deep impression. At n subsequent g:i 1 lieriug of meiniters of the British Empire League, Lord Willingdon again referred to his visit to New Zealand. He said’lie had

one complaint to make—that lie was left no time for fishing. He had hoped to spend a few days by some of New Zealand's famous trout streams. Speaking in a more serious vein, lie maintained that Australia and New Zealand were dangerously vulnerable because of their small populations, lie thought Unit one day. however. Australia should have a population of iiw,ooo;ooo.