RT. HON PETER FRASER

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 61, Issue 247, 31 July 1941, Page 4

RT. HON PETER FRASER

THE FREEDOM OF GLASGOW. CEREMONY AT CITY HALL. (United Press Association —Copyright.) LONDON, July 30. The lit. Hon. Peter Fraser yesterday visited two overseas forces clubs in Glasgow and met New Zealand airmen and soldiers. He later visited Trade House, where a historic meeting was held in 1847 as a result of which Scottish emigrants founded the Otago settlement. Mr Fraser received the freedom of Glasgow at a ceremony held in the city hall. The ceremony was marked by traditional dignity. The Lord Provost (Sir Patrick Dollan) who was accompanied by sheriffs and magistrates, was dressed in ermine and scarlet. One thousand people were present. The resolution conferring the freedom of the city on Mr Fraser stated that, it was in recognition of his important services to the Empire as Prime Minister of New Zealand.

Sir Patrick Dollan, presenting Mr Fraser with a gold casket containing a scroll, said the late Sir Joseph Ward was the only other New Zealander to be a freeman of Glasgow. Glasgow bestowed its highest honour on Mr Fraser for his, personal achievement and in recognition of the great contribution of New Zealand to the cause of democracy.

Mr Fraser, returning thanks “for a great honour from one of the greatest cities in the world,” added that it was not cpnferrcd on him personally but rather on the country lie represented as Prime Minister. At the conclusion of the ceremony Mr Fraser was loudly cheered. The New Zealand anthem was sung and Sir Harry Lauder joined in. Mr Fraser addressed 3000 persons at a, meeting in the evening. The speech was devoted to an outline of Now Zealand’s war effort. Mr Fraser said the whole community, including the Maoris, was doing its utmost. A feature of the meeting was the singing by the Hugh Robertson Orpheus Choir, which sang Scottish national songs and also 1 led the gathering’s rendering of the New Zealand anthem. Mr Fraser warmly thanked the choir. Mr Fraser left Glasgow for the shipyards where vessels for New Zealand are being constructed. NEW ZEALAND AIRMEN. SERVICE THROUGHOUT THE WAR, (Rec. noon.) LONDON, July 30. New Zealanders took part in every major air operation since the first leaflets were dropped over Germany, said Mr Fraser in an interview at Edinburgh. At the outbreak of the war there were 450 New Zealanders in the Air Force, now thei'e are over 20U0. A New Zealand night-fighter pilot brought down three German fighters and four bombers in the fiercest “blitz” on the Tyneside. Mr Fraser met twelve New Zealand,ers at the Victoria League Club in Edinburgh. During his visit to a shipyard in the cast of Scotland, where, vessels have been built for New Zealand. Mr Fraser thanked the workers lor helping not only the United Kingdom but also the Dominions. Undue emphasis on delects, delinquencies and absentees might give a wrong impression, blit what he had seen had given him the greatest possible encouragement.