DOMINION’S WAR EFFORT

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 235, 1 July 1944, Page 6

DOMINION’S WAR EFFORT

Delegation To Inspect PARTY FROM BRITAIN AND CANADA , “The members of the United Kingdom and Canadian Parliamentary Delegation at present in Australia will shortly arrive in New Zealand -and will be in the Dominion for just under three weeks,” said the Acting Prime Minister, Mr. Sullivan, last night. “They will visit practically every part of the Dominion and opportunity will be afforded to all members of the New Zealand> General Assembly. to meet and discuss various matters with them. Their primary purpose in coming to Australia and New Zealand is to investigate the war effort of both Dominions, and at the same time to let Australians and New Zealanders know something of what the ]>eople of the United Kingdom and Canada are doing. “Naturally in such a short period it will be impossible for the delegation to be in any one centre for any length of time. Opportunities to inspect New Zealand’s war effort in all its phases, particularly in production and industry, will be afforded. The delegation while in Australia has found that public welcomes and entertainments have seriously encroached on the time required to investigate the Australian war effort. In preparing their itinerary in New Zealand due regard has been paid to this and it has bqcome regrettably necessary to cut to a minimum tipie allotted to public functions. Nevertheless, wherever they go there will be, it is hoped, some opportunity for public contacts. “At every stage of their journey in both islands they will see the New Zealand war effort actually at work, and will meet both employers and workers in our industries, both primary and secondary. The members of the delegation have between them a very wire range of interests and though the whole party will in the main travel together, in the centres they will be divided into sections to enable ns many phases of our war effort as possible to be inspected. Addresses by Dr. Suuunerskill.

“The Government has been deluged with requests from a large number of organizations,” added Mr. Sullivan, “to meet and entertain members of the delegation. It has not been found possible to accede to these by reason of the short period of their stay in N.ew Zealand and the fact that they will have + o cover altogether in less than three weeks over 2000 miles of country. In particular, women’s organizations from one end of New Zealand to the other have expressed a keen desire to meet Dr; Edith Summerskill. It has not even been possible to make a selection of them, but in the four centres where the delegation will be staying for more than one night, arrangements are being made for Dr. Summerskill to address combined gatherings.of women. To these gatherings representatives of the organizations will be invited and the gatherings will also be open to women generally. Another difficulty in considering requests to meet Dr. Summerskill lies in the fact that she will have to leave New Zealand a week ahead of the other members of the delegation.” “The Government very much regrets,” said Mr. Sullivan in conclusion, “that it is impossible to make provision for all the contacts that are eminently desirable to enable the delegation to meet the people of New Zealand ' under informal conditions, but nothing under at least a six weeks’ tour could make that practicable. Detailed day to day itineraries will be issued during the visit, but before arrival the general outline of the tour will be made public. I am sure that I can speak for all the people of the Dominion when I say how pleased we are to have this opportunity of welcoming our distinguished guests and to extend to them our most cordial greetings.”

OBITUARY Mr. S. Morton The death occurred in Wellington this ■ week of Mr. Stewart Morton, who was born in Ireland and came to Wellington with his parents in 1874. Mr. Morton had a long career in commerce, being connected with the firm of Ballinger Bros., with whom he started work as a boy and remained till his retirement a few years ago. In his early days Mr. Morton was a member of the Poneke Football Club, and the old Thorndon, Bival, and Wadestown Cricket Clubs. He was a member of the Commercial Travellers’ Club, Savage Club, and a life member of the Wellington Working Men’s Club. He is survived by his wife and two daughters and also by a brother, Mr. James Morton. \ Mr. G. F. Hall The death occurred on Thursday night of Mr. George Francis Hall, of S 3 Moxham Avenue, Wellington, in his 62nd year. He was born in Woodville, and spent the greater part of his working life in the Railways Department, from which he retired a few years ago. Early in t WSS he, with his wife, son and daughter, went to England, with the intention of making their permanent home there and to give the daughter the opportunity of pursuing her musical studies at the Royal Academy of Music. In London he was employed for a time by the Hampstead Borough Council, but, on the outbreak of war in 1039 lie joined the staff of the High Commissioner for New Zealand. He returned to New Zealand in the following year, with his wife and daughter (the sou. Stanley, having joined up with the New Zealand Anti-Tank Battery, with which he saw service in Egypt). On his return to New Zealand Mr. Hall was for a time on the staff of the' Housing Construction Department, till illness forced him to relinquish the work. He was the only son of the late Mr. Charles Hall, who represented Waipawa in Parliament for IS years during the Seddon regime. lie is survived by his son Stanley, and daughter, Miss Cara Hall, the talented pianiste, of Wellington.

Mr. W. T. Benefield The death hag occurred in Wanganui of Mr. William Thoms Benefield, aged 93. He was one of the oldest residents in the district, residing there for 70 years. Bora in Canterbury, Kent, Mr. Benefield was engaged in nursery work-, his chosen career, at an early age. With his wife and son, he subsequently voyaged to New Zealand in the ship Waikatb. After landing iu Wellington, he came to Wanganui, where one of his first tasks was the planting of trees ip an area called the Church Acre in Victoria Avenue, ami now known as the Selwjji buildings site. Subsequently, in 1576, he established the Aramoho nursery, which is still conducted under the name of Benefield aud Sons. A member of the Aramoho School Committee for 20 years and chairman for 15 years, Mr. Benefield was a member of the old Puriri Road Board, which covered the area from Wanganui East to Kauangaroa. When the borough of Wanganui East was formed ho was returned at the head of the poll as one of the first councillors. Mr. Benefield was also a foundation member of the Wanganui Beautifying Society, the Wanganui Meat Freezing Company, and the Gonville Bowling Club, of which ho was the . only life member. He was also a member of the Wanganui Bowling Club tor more than -10 years. ... Six of his family are still living, the eldest son, Mr. W. A. Benefield, Aranioho. beitig 72 years of age. There are 89 grandchildren and 60 great-grand-children. ’ Of the grandsons and greatgrandsons who have gone overseas with the armed forces in this war. three hate been killed.