FLAT BOMBED

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 61, Issue 38, 25 November 1940, Page 8

FLAT BOMBED

INTERVIEW WITH LADY NEWALL ANTICIPATING A NORMAL HOME LIFE. LONDON, October 18. “You know, I’ve Seen very little of my husband during the past five years. His work has taken up all his time, and I’ll be quite frank when I say that we are so looking forward to living a more normal home and family life in New Zealand. We shall both enjoy a rest during the voyage , out after the strain of these years.” This was the comment made by Lady Newall, wife of Sir Cyril Newall, whose appointment as the next Govevnor-peneral of New Zealand was announced recently. Lady Newall has made her London homo temporarily in a hotel. “Our flat in London was bombed, and we’ve had to move out,” she explained. “Fortunately, both Sir Cyril and I were at our country house at Addlestone, in Surrey, for the weekend. All the children are at boarding school.’ 5

Lady Newall has spent much of her time since the appointment was announced in sending her resignation to various societies and organisations. She has been a voluntary worker for n great number, during the past five years, while her husband has been so fully occupied at the Air Ministry. All will greatly miss her energy and flair for'orgarusatjbn. , " , “There is so much to be done before wrieave;Lor ; ;NeAv;Zealaud'that;;l often wonder how I am going to manage it all,” she said. “Neither I nbr my husband have ever been to New Zealand, but it is one of the places we have most wanted to se’e’. " '“'; "A ' '

“As for the children, they are thrilled. -They’ve 5 been abroad before, of course.‘They- were with us in Egypt during my-husband’s-term of office there. In fact, Francis remembers it as the place where he learned to walk! “Children Keen on Ski-ing.” “They were also with, us in France and Switzerland. They were very keen on ski-ing in Switzerland, and I know they’ll be delighted when they find they can take their skis with them to New Zealand. We’re all very foikl of yachting, too, and from all I hear New Zealand is one of the places for yachting.” Lady Newall, who has the reputation of. being thorough in everything with which she is associated, is quietly amassing- a store of information about the Dominion. New Zealanders whom she meets and people with a knowledge of the country find they are plied charmingly yet insistently with questions. Agriculture and the life of the farming community are among her special interests.

“I can’t profess to a profound knowledge of farming,’ s she admitted. “But it is obviously such an important part of the country’s life. When you think of it, there is often so much aimlessness in people crowding into towns merely for the sake of being in a town or city.” Lady Newall is an accomplished pianiste and singer—although she declares that she is very “rusty” these days. She is keenly interested to learn of the musical activities of the Dominion. Music, she firmly believes, will give her a direct link to getting to know the Maori people. , “I’ye heard that they’re very devoted to music, and I’m sure that will be a Common ground for us when I have the opportunity of -meeting them.” An American by birth, Lady Newall, has travelled widely on the Continent, and several years have passed since she visited her native Boston for any length of time. Her last visit to America was made after she travelled there in the Queen Mary on its maiden voyage. Sir Cyril and Lady Newall were married on the Riviera during 1925.