.A HEARTY WELCOME

Wairarapa Times-Age, 9 March 1939, Page 7

.A HEARTY WELCOME

LORD NUFFIELD AT CIVIC RECEPTION REFERENCES TO GENEROUS BENEFACTIONS. PRAISE FOR MR. CHAMBERLAIN. One of the most enthusiastic welcomes ever accorded a visitor to Masterton was given to Lord Nuffield yesterday afternoon when cheering crowds greeted him on arrival at the Opera House when he was tendered a civic reception. The crowd overflowed into the street and cheered enthusiastically as the noted British industrialist and philanthropist arrived at and left the hall. In the course of his reply to speeches of welcome, Lord Nuffield said: “Anything I have ben able to do in the past has been a pleasure and I only hope that my health will continue so that I Will be able to keep on doing what I have done in the past to alleviate the sufferings of those less fortunate than ourselves.” The Deputy-Mayor, Councillor W. White, who presided in the unavoidable absence of the Mayor (Mr. T. Jordan) welcomed Lord Nuffield as one of the greatest men of the day. He eulogised the wonderful humanitarian and other work that Lord Nuffield was doing in all parts of the Empire for the relief of sufferers. Their visitor realised full well what it meant to be ill and crippled and there were many children, even in the Wairarapa who. would say ‘Thank God for Lord Nuffield.” .

Mr Duncan McGregor, chairman of the Wairarapa South County Council, who represented farming interests, said his personal feeling was one of sym* pathy for Lord Nuffield. It must be an ordeal for a man of his energy, organising ability and outstanding business acumen to be compelled to sit and listen to the platitudes “that some of us talk” and be more or less “on show.” After referring to Lord Nuffield’s wholesale manner of generosity, Mr McGregor said we in New Zealand were treated wonderfully well. We were in the nature of spoilt children, not only by Lord Nuffield but by John Bull and the British Government. If we did cur fair share towards the cost of the Empire’s defences where would our much vaunted standard of Hying be? It was not the fault of the Government, which was swayed by public opinion. If New Zealanders were not alive to their responsibilities and left the British taxpayer to pay the piper then they deserved to go under. Lord Nuffield was welcome, not only for his munificent benefactions, but for the spirit of brotherhood he spread throughout the nations. Mr J. Robertson, M.P., said Lord Nuffield had distinguished himself in

many ways and had been an enormous influence in the building up and development of the British motor industry. A care for humanity and a feeling for his fellow men had characterised Lord Nuffield’s activities for years past. He was to be congratulated on making such great use of his vast wealth for the benefit of suffering humanity. Lord Nuffield said he very much appreciated the fact that so many people had dene him the honour of attending his reception. Anything he had been able to do in the past had been a pleasure and he only hoped that his health would continue so that’he would be able to keep on doing what he had done to alleviate the sufferings of those who were less fortunate than ourselves. He felt that he had only done what he should have in the position he was in. “At the same .time,” he added, “there are a lot .of people in this world, perhaps not in the same position as I am. who could, however, do their bit to help those less fortunate than they were.”

As they all knew, he had just come from the Old Country, which had passed through troublous times of recent months. “I Would like you to know, however, that in the time of crisis we were not afraid. I can assure you that that great man, Neville Chamberlain, went out. of his way by flying to Germany, not to appease ‘that gentleman or to prevent him from fighting us, but to do his best to avert another war, which would have meant the slaughter of men. I was with him just before I left and it astounded me how he- has stood up to the enormous strain. If the country will only have the same faith in him —and I do not doubt that it will —he will do his best to prevent further carnage in the future.” Lord Nuffield said he would return to the Old Country with very warm feelings of New Zealand. This was his sixth visit and he hoped that it would not be his last. He could assure them that he would be out here again as soon as he possibly could. He regretted the absence of the Mayor, but he fully appreciated that Mr. Jordan was away doing his job of work. When he returned to England he would, as in the past, continue to do anything he could to further the interests “of this great little country of yours.” (Applause.) . After presenting special prizes at the Flower Show, Lord Nuffield left for Featherston en route to Wellington.