RT. HON. P. FRASER.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 61, Issue 248, 1 August 1941, Page 5

RT. HON. P. FRASER.

DAY AT SCOTTISH SHIPYARDS TO BE HONOURED BY EDINBURGH LONDON, July 30. Mr Fraser has accepted an invitation from the Lord Provost and corporation of Edinburgh to receive the freedom of the City. A date has not been fixed. This is the seventh British city , to make Mr Fraser a Freeman, a record number for anjf New Zealand Prime Minister. Mr Fraser spent yesterday in Edinburgh visiting east coast shipyards, where chief interest was in three minesweepers being built for New Zealand. Accompanied by Commander Connelly, of Dunedin, Mr Fraser inspected these. Commander Connelly is commanding one of three ships which will eventually sail for the Dominion, chiefly manned by NeAV Zealand offi cers and men, a number of whom were present at the inspection. The management and employees of the shipyards asked Mr Fraser to address a meeting of the employees. A quarter of an hour before lunch-time, 1500 men gathered round the headquarters of the shipyards. The men stood on ships’ girders, spars, oil drums and baulks of timber and cheered Mr Fraser, who thanked the men building ships for New Zealand. In spite of the wrong impression which might be conveyed, undue emphasis had been placed on defects, absenteeism and slacking, all of which were bad because they Avere not helping Britain but Hitler, said Mr Fraser. Yet wlial he had seen of the factories, shipyards, and docks had given him the greatest possible encouragement, be cause Avhat he had seen Avas contrary to reports. A worker called for cheers for New Zealand, and this call evoked a magnificent response. Mr Fraser met the principal organisers, the management and voluntary Avorkers at the Overseas and Vic toria League Clubs, and thanked them on behalf of the people and Govern ment of New Zealand for. the hospitality tendered to “our boys” serving in the forces.

Mr Fraser, accompanied by the NeAV Zealand High Commissioner (Mr W. J. Jordan) and Mrs Jordan, had lunch Avith Mr Henry Steele (Lord Provost of Edinburgh) and later motored to Aberdeen.