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Hokitika Guardian, 29 June 1931, Page 4

President Herbert Clark Hoover first came into prominence international.y when he took charge of the Belgian Relief Fund which he administered throughout the war, as some peop.e said - ‘iu spite of the Germans.” Latei lie was in charge of the rehabilitation of central Europe, and he also organised the international relief provided at the Lime of the disaster in Smyrna. Born in 1874. he lost his, parents a th? age of nine and lias battled for himself ever since. By education he is a mining engineer, and has worked for Governments in most parts of the world including Australia aiid Ghiiii. It L difficult in just tuiehiug the high lights of Mr Hoover’s career and accomplishments, to avoid giving tj|e impression that lie is an ainiost siiper-iiumiiii being, He is imthibg of tile sort. Anyone who has known him in bin famiiv with him charming wife, his two sons arid now his two grandchildren : or has seen him damming up streams outside of Washington, knee deep m mud and water ; or watched him fishing with the humour and quiet patience of a true philosopher, is conscious of a modesty and charm which have gone even further in endearing him to his associates than his extraordinary ability. When bis reading skips freni detective stories to religious philosophy, from Mayan architecture to farm co-operative organisation, and then hath to detective stories or statesmen's memoirs, he can hardly he said to lack human interests. But host of all, if one would know the man himself, not the authorin' on foreign trade or on simplification, not the great relief organiser or the champion of America nindividuality one has but to listen to some of his reminiscences of his own personal experiences. Free from the shyness which makes him an indifferent public speaker, he has gifts as a story teller, a delightful sense of humour, and at the same time an interest in all the trifling details of other people’s lives which chamre the austere man of heavy responsibilities into a very charming boy.