Goodwill Tour

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 835, 2 December 1929, Page 14

Goodwill Tour

LINER MALOLO ARRIVES

Big American Party Welcomed

AMASSU E, brown bull topped by sturdy twin funnels tipped with peaeoek blue surged round the North Head at C. 35 o clock yesterday morning. Under dull skies it moved to mid-stream anchorage and stopped.

The Matson liner Malolo (“The Flying Fish’ - ), carrying 350 “goodwill” American tourists, had arrived in Auckland after a rough hut fast trip from Sydney. Her high superstructure of seven decks towered above the bobbing launches which welcomed her.

Fresh from enthusiastic welcomes and generous hospitality in Sydney and Melbourne, the Malolo’s passengers were excitedly eager at the prospect of seeing New Zealand. After the medical inspection was over and pratique had been granted, the big luxury liner steamed to her berthing place on the western side of Queen’s Wharf. By 9 a.m. a large party of Americans was on Its way to Rotorua by train.

Those of the visitors who journeyed to New Zealand’s principal spa today utilised a long string of motor-cars which awaited them on the wharf and were taken on a sight-see-ing tour of the City and its environs. Wealthy business men and women, travelling in the most luxurious vessel which has visited Auckland, the Malolo’s passengers are wasting no time, and are planning their amusements on a scale regardless of expense. One young heiress—daughter of a wealthy manufacturer, and the only Canadian in the party—talked yesterday morning about chartering an airplane to fly to Rotorua. She seemed a little dispointed when others considered the venture impracticable. NATIONAL FLAGS The Malolo’s tour is being carried out under the auspices of the Sau Francisco Chamber of Commerce, a great banner announcing this being lowered on the ship’s side after her arrival in the Waitemata. At her stern flew the Stars and Stripes, at her bows the flag of the U.S. Mercantile Marine, and at her masthead—as a compliment to the Dominion —the marine flag of New Zealand.

Among those who rose at an early hour to welcome the Americans were the Hon. J. G. Cobbe, Minister of Industries and Commerce, representing the New Zealand Government, Mr. .J. C. Collins, secretary for the department, the Mayor of Auckland, Mr. G. Baildon, members of the Auckland Chamber of Commerce, and representatives of the Auckland Harbour Board. During the trip from Australia the Government was represented by the Auckland and Melbourne agents of the Tourist Department. Welcomes on shipboard were brief and informal as the big party was in a scurry of excitement to get ashore and seek New Zealand’s fresh fields of entertainment. Breakfast was eaten and suitcases produced with lightning speed, the perfect service in this ex-quisitely-appointed ship being seen in * all its eiEciency. V/OMEN PREDOMINATE The tour which began at San Fran cisco on September 21 lias been undertaken by rich and influential Americans from all parts of the United States, although visitors from the Pacific Coast and, in particular, California, are in greatest numbers. Women predominate, the majority being the wives, families, or widows of wealthy business men, with a sprinkling of business and professional women and women well known in American public life. All are travelling under the best possible conditions, the ship being specially equipped for first-class passengers only. The accommodation ranges from palatial suites costing as much as 13,000 dollars, to smaller staterooms secured at comparatively lower but still impressive figures. The paramount impression gleaned from a visitor’s inspection of the Malolo’s accommodation quarters is that of luxurious restt’ulness. Though the furnishings of this 17,200-tons liner are. not carried out with the same harmonious period dignity that is to be found, in a crack British liner, they comprise the acme of comfort and mechanical efficiency. The main lounge, from which access is gained through big swing doors to the immense dining saloon, resembles the lounge of a large modern hotel. Thick carpet covers the floor and the

long polished counter of an efficient inquiry office takes up nearly the whole of one wall. ROMAN POOL On the deck above is another spacious lounge flanked by a novelty shop, drug store, and cigar divan. On the deck below Is a gorgeously equipped swimming pool, eight feet deep at one end, designed in Roman style and finished in green tiling. Below that again is a fully equipped gymnasium and on the upper decks are promenades, an immense smoking room, two cabaret floors, a library of 3,000 volumes, a verandah cafe, a dental service, and a hospital. One of the lounges may be transformed at will into a picture theatre where, on the way from Australia, New Zetland films accompanied by lectures on the Dominion and its tourist attractions were shown. There is a complete telephone service on the ship, every stateroom having its private line. A newspaper is published every day, with a complete plant, including linotype machine and printing press. Speedy and built entirely for passenger service, the Malolo, flagship of the Matson Line, provides greater lounging and deck space than the average liner. Fresh air is supplied to even the lowest decks by special apparatus, which changes the air completely every three minutes. Every stateroom has its private bath, and the slightest wish of any passenger is attended to by a huge staff of stewards, white-coated bell-boys, and waiters. '

GREAT SUCCESS

MESSAGES OF GOODWILL FOR AUCKLAND A LEADER’S IMPRESSIONS “The trip is being a great success. We bring messages of goodwill to New Zealand and Auckland.” When interviewed yesterday morning Mr. R. N. Lynch, vice-president and manager of the San Francisco Chamber of Commerce, was delighted with the party’s experiences in Australia where, he said, the people “opened their hearts and homes.” “We found that they appreciated the real meaning and purpose of our trip,” he said. “New Zealand and Australia are our highest objectives, and we are looking forward with great eagerness to see conditions here. REPRESENTATIVE MEN “All members of our party are representative businessmen and they will examine with the keenest eyes what New Zealand possesses. I have been in close touch with the deliberations of the Institute of Pacific Relations, and I feel that we are carrying out the aims and objects of that institute by our present venture. “San Francisco is sea-minded and world-minded, and we have come to visit our countrymen of the Pacific in a sincere spirit of friendship and helpfulness,” he added. “We of the United States feel that by meeting our fellow men face to face and by shaking their hands we may strengthen the bonds of international relations and friendships. “It has long been the desire of the San Francisco Chamber of Commerce to sponsor such a good-will cruise, as we are on and it is quite possible that we will come on similar missions in succeeding years.” Mr. Lynch’s life has been linked with chamber of commerce activities in California for the past 25 years. He has been vice-president and manager of the San Francisco Chamber of Commerce for 17 years and is one of the four oldest men in point of continuous service in chamber of commerce work in the United States. * Mr.. Lynch was one of four men in America who were decorated by the Emperor of Japan at the time of the coronation a few months ago. The other three were Messrs. Charles P. Taft, John R. Mott, president of the international Y.M.C.A., and Wallace Alexander, of San Francisco.