LORD NUFFIELD’S VISIT.

Wairarapa Times-Age, 7 March 1939, Page 4

LORD NUFFIELD’S VISIT.

OOMMENDABLE enterprise has been shown in inducing Lord Nuffield to spend some hours in Masterton, in the course of his very brief visit to New Zealand, and no doubt there will be a full muster of the public at the civic reception at which he is to be entertained in the Opera House tomorrow afternoon. Both as an industrialist and as a philanthropist who has given away some ten millions of money, Lord Nuffield is one of the outstanding figures of his time and the opportunity of meeting him in friendly fashion face to face is one that New Zealanders here and in oilier parts of the Dominion will welcome heartily. Much as he is known and respected for his noble benefactions in the Mother Country and throughout the Empire—benefactions of which this district has been given a liberal share —Lord Nuffield has other and not less noteworthy claims to respect and recognition. As part and parcel of his organisation and development of a great motor business, he has given a noteworthy lead in building up Empire trade and year by year is spending no inconsiderable part of his time in maintaining close contact with the Dominions. In this respect and in others. Lord Nuffield is setting an example worthy of being emulated by the best and most able of his contemporaries. These are days in which an intelligently directed extension and expansion of industry is becoming more and more obviously a condition of healthy national progress, particularly in the overseas territories of the British Empire. Lord Nuffield is making a directly practical contribution to that development and his great ability and altogether unusual first-hand acquaintance with conditions in Britain and in the Dominions should enable him to throw much useful light on the genera] industrial problems by which the Dominions and the Empire are confronted. An enterprising elaboration of industry in the Dominions evidently is essential if they are to build up at all rapidly and in the right conditions the populations they must have if they are individually to enjoy security and are to play the part they should in the evolving life of the Empire and of world democracy. Lord Nuffield’s list of engagements during his visit to Masterton is rather heavy and may in some measure tax his patience and good nature. Merciful brevity in speeches of welcome may be recommended as an excellent means of lightening a programme that otherwise might be burdensome and tiring. The people of this town and district will be of one mind in desiring to extend to Lord Nuffield a welcome of which he will retain only pleasant and happy memories.