“LEGS OF THE WORLD”

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XVII, 7 December 1927, Page 3

“LEGS OF THE WORLD”

N.Z. AND ITALY.

KING VICTOR INTERESTED. [Special to "Tribune"! Auckland, DecqjaJjer 7. “We in New Zealand are very interested in your troubles,” Your Majesty.” The King of Italy smiled when Mr W. B. Mathieson. Dominion vice-president of the Farmers’ Union, made this statement to him. “Perhaps it is because our countries are much the same shape?” suggested the King. It might be possible, declared Mr Mathieson. who returned on Sunday by the Aorangi, that Italy and New Zealand might yet be the “legs” of the world I The King laughed heartily. The occasion was an audience following the International Agriculture Conference held in Rome recently at the invitation of the Italian Government. Mr Mathieson was the sole representative of New Zealand and Australia. For that reason he stood alone when the different deputies grouped themselves according to their nationalities at the Palace <■ the Quirinal. Kin<r Victor Emmanuel, seeing the New Zealander by himself, at once inquired his citizenship. When he learned that Mr Mathieson came from New Zealand he was keenly interested and soon showed that he knew something about our country in addition to the fact that in shape it was not unlike Italy. His Majesty also wanted to know what prospects there were in New Zealand for Italian settlers. Though an audience had been arranged with Mussolini, Mr Mathieson was not able to meet him. On the morning of the interview the Dictator of Italy Commenced sneaking in the Italian House ol‘ Parliament and did not conclude for two and a-half hours. Consequently "audiences” arranged with foreigners were decidedly off. MET KING AGAIN. Mr Mathieson had another opportunity of meeting the King, which confirmed his opinion that Victor Emmanuel is not a mere puppet in the hands of the Dictator “The King is particularly wellinformed, and 1 came to the conclusion that tlie partnership was a good one. Each is able to give the other certain attributes thev do not individually possess. I believe that the King plays a much more important part in the affairs of his country than he is usually given credit for!” Mr and Mrs Mathieson also spent some time in England, and returned to New Zealand via the United States.