LADY WOLSELEY IN N.Z.

Evening Star, Issue 19791, 15 February 1928, Page 12

LADY WOLSELEY IN N.Z.

OUR SOLDIERS THE " WHITE-HEADED BOYS OF THE EMPIRE " [Special to the ‘ Stae.’] AUCKLAND, February 14. An arrival by the Maungauui this morning Irom Sydney was Lady W olseley, who is making her first visit to tlic doiniiiioi). New Zealanders are not unknown to her, however, even it Lady Wolseley is not as yet acquainted with their country. As a matter of fact, she is particularly partial to Now Zealanders, for she worked among many ol our overseas troops when they wore abroad, and, in common with so many other Englishwomen, extended them hospitality during the war years. '“Wo always look upon them as the white-headed boys of the Empire,” she said. Lady Wolseley received such a iavoraiilo impression of the attractions of ihe “little dominion in the Southern Seas” from her cousin, Lord Knollys, who was in Auckland two years ago, that she determined to make the trip. The lion. Charlotte Knollys, (lie constant companion of Queen Alexandra until her death, is Lady Wolseley's aunt and godmother, and is still living in London. The first Lord Knollys, private secretary to King Edward, and subsequently to King George, was, of course, her uncle. The Light lion. Sir William Knollys, K.C.8., her grandfather, was at one time Comptroller ol the Royal Household. “1 certainly think that English men, and women too, should sec as much as possible of the dominions. _ The ignorance abroad among certain people in regard to this part of the world is appalling.” declared Lady Wolseley, who has no moan record as a globe-trotter, though this is her first visit to New Zealand and Australia. Prior to the war the Into Sir Cupel AVolseley, a member of the Diplomatic Service, and a skilled Russian linguist, was at Archangel. Lady Wolseley made the trip out, to tho Far East in a tramp steamer. The Russian visit gave her a taste for travel which she lias never attempted to subdue. For years sho has roamed around the world, and knows America almost as well as her native England. “1 think tho money would be far better spent visiting tho dominions and seeing for ourselves our vast Empire resources than on trips to Monte Carlo,” was her very emphatic submission. Australia amazed Lady Wolseley. To believe that so much had been accomplished in such a comparatively _ short space of time seemed well-nigh impossible. The future, she contends, holds a great deal for the dominions beyond the seas.

That women with a certain amount of capital should leave England and settle in Australia is another of Lady Wolseley’s contentions. “ 1 believe there arc excellent opportunities awaiting women with a certain amount ol money,” she says. “Our women shelved what they could do in war years, and I feel certain that this class would do splond’dly in Australia.’ It is just possible that Lady AA’olscley. wild Juts engaged somewhat extensively in journalism (she was on the ‘Daily Mail’ staff at one time during Lonl Nori hclid'o’s regime), will convoy some of her Now Zealand impressions into print. Sho has three books to her credit, and is engaged on another during her present trip; hut whatever she writes Die Imperial theme will be paramount. Lady AVolseley is British lo the backbone.' “ I am a great believer in the destiny of our Empire.” she says. “As a matter of fact,” added Lady AA’oiscley, very thoughtfully, “it is the onlv free Stale in the world to-day.”