PRESS DELEGATES RETURN

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 188, 8 May 1944, Page 4

PRESS DELEGATES RETURN

Six Months’ Tour Ends IMPRESSION OF BRITAIN (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) AUCKLAND, May 7. Much first-hand knowledge o£ the immensity of the war effort in Great Britain and the United States has been gained by a New Zealand Press delegation which has returned to the Dominion after an absence of nearly six months. Their tour, which embraced many thousands of miles, was undertaken at the invitation of the. British Ministry of Information. The leader of the delegation was Mr. W. A. Whitlock, of the “Hawke’s Bay Herald-Tribune,” Hastings. The other members of the party were Messrs. 11. P. N. Freeth. of the "Press,” Christchurch. E. V. Dumbleton, of the Auckland "Star,” W. J. Green, of the “Standard,” Wellington, and A. Hardcastle, of the “Evening Post.” Wellington. After nearly five years of war the people of Britain were naturally tired and keenly looked forward to peace, said Mr. Whitlock. Their present attitude could best be described as “dull doggedness." They knew the war would be won. but the sooner it was won the better. “They take it for granted that the Second Front will soon eventuate and they are confident of the outcome.’ he added. “They arc fully aware, however, that it will probably involve heavy sacrifices and casualties.” Mr. Whitlock said the delegation had visited farms, factories, shipyards and naval and air establishments. and they had seen much of the devastation caused by the. Luftwaffe.* They had learned for themselves how completely Hiller had failed to crush the moral and material resources of the British people. Recent raids, however, had made them realize they could still suffer from the Tjuftwafre, though it was amazing how the people stood up to these attacks. . “Of, the achievements of the British farmer we cannot speak too highly, he said. “We had asked that we be shown something of the war effort on the agricultural front and we were given firstclass opportunities to meet farmers, to see their farms and to discuss with them things in which all farmers are interested. The emphasis in British farming is now almost whollk upon cropping and whole-milk production. It is up to the Dominions to supply meat, cheese and butter to meet Britain’s wartime food needs/’ The party had found the food reasonably good, but monotonous through lack of variety. The absence of fruit was noticeable, though to a small degree this was now being relieved by the arrival of oranges and lemons from the Mediterranean. Workers were provided with good midday meals at restaurants and in eities many people dined out whenever they were able. Considering the strict blackout, the number of people about in the carlv evenings was amazing and both restaurants and theatres were doing a big trade.