PUBLIC WELCOME

Wairarapa Times-Age, 19 March 1941, Page 5

PUBLIC WELCOME

GIVEN TO AMERICAN SQUADRON ENTHUSIASM IN AUCKLAND. CAPTAIN’S STONE’S REPLY. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) AUCKLAND, March 18. Aucklanders eagerly seized their first opportunity of giving a public welcome to officers and men of the American squadron when an open air civic reception was held in front of the Town Hall at midday. Though it was not a holiday, thousands of people from all suburbs and numbers more who could take a little time off work crowded into Queen Street just before noon. Banners strung across the street and flags on nearly every building gave the whole occasion a likeness to the tumultuous welcome accorded by the city to H.M.S. Achilles early last year. Replying to speeches of welcome by the Mayor of Auckland (Sir Ernest Davis) the Minister of Defence (Mr. Jones), and others, the commander of the American squadron, Captain E. S. Stone said that in the light of developments in the Old World, it was particularly gratifying to Americans to recall that at the turn of the century President Theodore Roosevelt, with obviously prophetic vision, had taken a lead in bringing about closer relations between the United States and the British Empire.

“It is also gratifying to recall that the American Navy was made the main agent of that policy when the fleet was sent in 1907 on its trip round the world. I am no longer a young man and my memory is not as good as it was, but if I remember rightly,” added Captain Stone meaningly, “that cruise was also a ‘training cruise.’ ” Referring to later visits to New Zealand, the captain said the Dominion’s hospitality was common knowledge in the American Navy. It had made thousands of goodwill ambassadors who had learnt at first hand something of the country’s industries and agriculture and of the thoughts of its people. Each of these men had done a great deal in his own community for the development of closer understanding. On behalf of everyone in the squadron Captain Stone offered his thanks for Auckland’s “wholly spontaneous and beautiful gesture” of welcome, made on practically no notice. It was in keeping, he said, with what the city had done in looking after American women and children on their way home from the Far East aboard the Monterey. This had made a profound and lasting impression in the United States, Captain Stone ended his speech with a wave of his hand, and “Kia ora.”