SCOTTISH HOSPITALITY

Evening Star, Issue 24294, 8 September 1942, Page 6

SCOTTISH HOSPITALITY

HEW ZEALANDERS ROYALLY TREATED As was the case with another generation during the last war, New Zealanders abroad to-day are finding that the hospitality of the people of Scotland is real and lavish. A lad from Central Otago who is serving in the Navy writes to tell that another New Zealander and he were given their first leave at Plymouth and travelled by train to London. Recognising them as New Zealanders, an elderly Scottish gentleman took them “under his wing” and carried them with him to his home in Scotland. He paid for everything, bought them cigarettes in ample quantity (though they were rationed), treated them like sons, and brought them back himself to the south before their leave had expired. When on service in the North Sea, the lad from Otago found his way to Glasgow. After enjoying a “ show ” one night, he sneezed and dropped his dental plate, and in the black-out he unfortunately stood on it and broke it. The dentist to whom he took the plate for repairs not only refused to accept payment, but forced the lad to accept a “ fiver ” with which to enjoy his leave and gave him comfortable accommodation in his own flat. Taken by his new friend to a dog racing meeting one night, the Otago lad—a country youth with an eye for a good animal — fancied one of the dogs and said he would invest a pound on it. “ No, you won’t,” said his host. “You keep your money, and I’ll put a pound on for you.” The fancied animal won and paid a dividend of £5, an amount which was forced on the sailor lad.