EMPIRE PRESS DELEGATES

Hokitika Guardian, 18 August 1925, Page 3

EMPIRE PRESS DELEGATES

( IYIC RECEPTION AT AUCKLAND. fISV TELKGKAI’JI —l’Elt I'ltl'.SS ASSOCIATION.] AUCKLAND, August 17. A civic reception was tendered to the Overseas Press Delegates at the Town Hall this morning. DeputyMayor Warnock, presided, and there was a large, representative attendance, including Sir James Parr, officially representing the Government. I lie De-puty-Mayor said that last week they had the pleasure of welcoming the powerful Rattle Fleet of the United States ami to-day they were welcoming the representatives ot a power that was more potent than all the battle fleets in that, by their influence they guided the destinies of the world. The newspapers were the only literature ol the millions, and they theroiore moulded the ideas, ideals, and thoughts of nations. A most pleasing feature of the Hritish press, which was represented. was its absolute fairness and honesty of purpose in the advocacy of the people’s rights and freedom. It was ever ready to combat anything that might tend to subvert peace and the good of society. An official welcome by the Government would he held in 'Wellington in a lew days, hut it "as at I the bequest of the Prime Minister iiud the Cabinet that he took this earliest. opportunity of expressing to tb< delegates a hearty welcome from the Government and people of New Zeals ml. Lord Burnham, who was received with cheers, said the delegates wore almost overwhelmed by the warmth of the greeting. He returned the si nee rest thanks for the reception. The Deputy Mayor had compared their visit with that of the American Fleet. He would not draw any comparison between the Navy and the I’rws. He would only sav that the American Fleet was unanimously backed by the American Press, hut he was certain that the British Navy was equally hacked and sustained by the sympathies of its own press, and a combination sucli as that "as very difficult to equal and impossible to exceed. Ibe defecates rejoiced to find themselves in what they always hoard to be. ami what they already knew, to be the most “Home-like" ol the British overseas Dominions. Me had already .satisfied himself on that point. They had come here to renew many friendships, and to make more. He had had the pleasure of meeting many public men from the Dominions, including the late Prime Minister, and on behalf ol himself aicl his colleagues, he sympathised with New Zealand in the dire loss sustained by the death of that gicat public servant. Of him it could truly be said: “He belonged to the bull dog breed.” Lord Burnham paid a high tribute to the New Zealand division. The delegation had come to New Zealand to learn something for themselves concerning the resources and possibilities of the Dominion. He had never heard anyone who came tn New Zealand that did not speak well of it. They had to realise what .settlement meant, and he pointed out that there was not one country that did so much trade per head of the population with Great Britain as New Zealand. There was no doubt they had to see for themselves how best to reciuit people bore by good blood or good fibre from the Old Country. Tie was not there to preach the doctrines of indiscriminate immigration, because he knew how many objections there were t 0 it. He hoped that nothing would bo left undone to send out the host of their youth, the same as was being sent to Flock House, which, he hoped, would he capable of great development, if at the Press Conference they were able to dra" closer the skein of ties and sympathy within the Empire, l" increase the concords and diminish the discords, and to get the British people to rolv more on themselves than on the outside world, then their time wool out have been wasted. AUCKLAND. Aug. IS. There was a large attendance of local pressmen and the public, at I he railway station at 40.30 this morning, when the Imperial Press delegates lei. hv special train for Rotorua, 'h >c they spend to-morrow. They then ’ts'l Waitomo caves, from where they motor through to New Plymouth, u herein tel they proceed by special tram to V liiigton. HAMILTON, August 18. The overseas delegates to the Empire Press Union Conforonee arrived at Hamilton this afternoon and made a short stay. After luncheon they inspected the Railway Department s house factory and the New Zealand ( oOperativc Dairy Company’s large butter factory at Plankton. They were "reatlv imnressed and if time permits they will be taken for a short motor run. Krotn Hamilton tin' nnrfv proceed to Itotnnm.