BRIEF VISIT ENDS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 4 September 1943, Page 2

BRIEF VISIT ENDS

MRS ROOSEVELT DEPARTS FOR AUSTRALIA FAREWELLS AT AUCKLAND. THANKS TO ALL NEW ZEALAND WOMEN. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) AUCKLAND, September 3. Precisely at the appointed time of 9 o’clock, Mrs Eleanor Roosevelt left Auckland this,, morning for Australia, so ending a week’s visit to New Zealand in which every waking hour was crammed with inspections and receptions. Notwithstanding the fatiguing nature of her brief tour, Mrs Roosevelt looked as fresh as she had on arrival, and was as full as ever of the charm and gentleness which enraptured every New Zealander who was privileged to meet her. Characteristic of Mrs Roosevelt was the point she made of thanking all those who had accompanied and served her during her visit. "I am afraid I have been an awful trouble to you all,” she said to the detectives, drivers and officials who had been with her, and she gladly consented to pose for a photograph with the detectives. At the airport Mrs Roosevelt was farewelled by the Governor-General (Sir Cyril Newall). She had a special word for Mrs Peter -Fraser, through whom she thanked all the New Zealand women who, she said, had helped to make her stay so delightful. She was also farewelled by the Minister of Defence, Mr Jones; the Minister in Charge of War Co-ordination, Mr Perry, the mayor and mayoress, Major-General Bell, Commodore Dowding, D.S.C., Air Commodore Buckley, and a number of other officers. Americans who were there to see her off included Mr R. E. Cox, Charge d’Affaires and Acting-Minister at the United States Legation, Colonel Nankivell, Military Attache at the Legation, Mr Hiram A. Boucher, Consul at Auckland, Captain Jupp, senior American naval officer in New Zealand, Colonel Boyers, commanding officer of the United States Army forces in New Zealand, and Lieutenant-Commander Brooks Gifford, naval operating base, Public Relations Office. Mrs Roosevelt did not make any farewell speech before she left, but to a number of those with whom she shook hands she said she had thoroughly enjoyed her visit and was very glad she had come. A few minutes before 9 o’clock Mrs Roosevelt climbed into 1 the plane. She carried with her U posy of presented to her by. .a small gin- and was still screwing on the cap of er fountain penLfter giving her last New Zealand autographs to two boys.