“LEGS OF THE WORLD”

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 219, 5 December 1927, Page 14

“LEGS OF THE WORLD”

N.Z. AND ITALY KING VICTOR INTERESTED “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 yesterday by the Aorangi, that Italy and New Zealand might yet be the “legs” of the world! The King laughed heartily. The occasion was an audience following the International Agriculture Coneference 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 of the Quirinal. King 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 speaking in the Italian House of 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 well-in-formed and I came to the conclusion that the partnership was a good one. Each is able to give the other certain attributes they 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.