MR. W. T. JENNINGS, M.P.

Taranaki Daily News, 7 November 1921, Page 4

MR. W. T. JENNINGS, M.P.

HOME FROM HIS WORLD TOUR. INTERESTING EXPERIENCES. After an aJbsence of seven months, during which he made a trip to Australia, Egypt, the Gallipoli and French battlefields, England and Canada, Mr. W. T. Jennings, M.P., returned to New Plymouth on Saturday night. Mr. Jennings resumed Parliamentary duties last week and returns to Wellington tomorrow.

Speaking to a Daily News reporter of his visit to the battlefields, Mr. Jennings stated that while on Gallipoli he was taken to Chanak Bair, where Lieut.Colonel Malone, Sergeants Sole, Okey and other Taranaki boys were killed. One could not help but be filled with emotion while looking over that spot, he said; and in France, where there were miles of cemeteries, the rows of w r hite crosses left a deep impression.

While in ■ England Mr. Jennings was surprised to find the large number of New Zealanders enc entered. He was present at the farewell dinner given to Mr. MasSey, when about 400 were present, having come from various parts of England to attend the function. During his tour Mr. Jennings met Sir Joseph Ward on several occasions, and at that period Sir Joseph was recovering from a somewhat lengthy illness. Other New Zealanders met were Mr. George Smith, who will be remembered as a famous All Black, and is now residing near Manchester. He indicated it was probable he might return to New Zealand. While in London Mr. Jennings was the guest of Labor members of the House of Commons at a dinner, about fifteen being present, including Messrs. J. R. Clynes (chairman) and Griffiths (Whip). Mr. Jennings found them to be deeply interested in the industrial laws of New Zealand.

Canada’s new Parliament House was visited by Mr. Jennings. It is to be a magnificent place, and up to the present has cost 14 million dollars. It was the finest Parliament House he had seen during his travels, and w'hile not having the antiquity of Westminster it was certainly a far more imposing building. The library is a feature, and contains 750,000 works. Canada has an expensive building of another kind at Winnipeg, the Canadian Agricultural College, an up-to-date institution costing 4 million dollars.