LITTLE PLEASURE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 203, 28 August 1935, Page 5

LITTLE PLEASURE.

MR. FORBES' "HOLIDAY" "GLAD TO LEAVE LONDON." BOUGH TRIP ON TASMAJJ. The Prime Minister is not convinced that travel is a perpetual joy. A reference in Christchurch to his "holiday" in England drew from him the statement that while he appreciated the break from the strenuous work of administration in New Zealand, he did not agree with those people who thought that a trip to England was an entirely pleasant experience.

"No official visitor to the Old Country is his own master," he said. "The programme is arranged and must be carried out, wet or fine, and however anxious one might be to snatch a day's peaceful rest, the schedule of arrangements is inexorable. I had set myself to make inquiries as extensive as possible regarding a large number of matters of interest to New Zealand apart altogether from the prime purpose of my visit to London, which was, of course, to represent New Zealand at the King's Jubilee celebration, and apart from the negotiations that we were entering into in regard to the imports of New Zealand produce into the Mother Country. These duties, ' though selfimposed, were none the less tiring on that account, and I was heartily glad to leave London on the return trip. I may add that I am even more delighted to be back in New Zealand."

The concluding sentence of the Prime Minister's statement arose from the fact that the voyage from Europe was not an uninterrupted pleasure. Before he could land in Bombay the Prime Minister had to be vaccinated, and a few days later he developed an abnormal temperature, which put him under the control of the doctor. Then Mrs. Forbes who had felt the strain of the visit to England rather severely, was anything but well, and, in fact, did not even go ashore at Perth and Adelaide, and was unable to accept the many invitations extended to • her in Melbourne. The interruption of the trip from Sydney by the shipping strike was another source of worry, and, finally, the voyaj-e across the Tasman Sea was, Mr. Forbes said, about the most uncomfortable experience of the kind he had had.