"PLEASURE OURS"

Auckland Star, Volume LXXII, Issue 120, 23 May 1941, Page 5

"PLEASURE OURS"

EGYPT AND N.Z.E.F. [ I J! ! HIGH TRIBUTE TO TROOPS l| ' l< OJ.Z.E.F. Official News Service.) j CAIRO, May 21.1 The following appeared as a leading article in the "Egyptian J Gazette" of May 19: "In a homely!; talk to the local Press last night, Mr.:; Peter Fraser, Prime Minister of New: jZealand, at present on a short visit ; ;to his countrymen serving here, exipressed gratitude on behalf of the 1 iDominion Government and people ;for the warm welcome given, both lofficially and unofficially, by every'one to New Zealand forces in Egypt. He mentioned in particular the various clubs and recreational cen-j tres and said how gratified he was to find a genuine attempt to make: the boys feel at home. ! "We for our part." says the. "Gazette," "would like to return the! compliment and say the pleasure isl ours. We have not forgotten that) the New Zealanders were the first' IDominion troops to arr-ve In this! jseems a long time since that Febru-J jary day when Mr. Eden and a small! I party of journalists went down to; iwelcome them, and the distinctive New Zealand Army hat has long ; since ceased to be a novelty in' Egypt. However, this is not" one! of those occasions when familiaritvi breeds contempt, but rather a growing appreciation of the sterling! qualities of the men from 'down lunder.' ; " With those at home in Xew .Zealand we here rejoice at their brilliant action in Greece, and still more at their safe return. When Mr. Fraser said New Zealanders were modest he was right. They are shining examples of democratic gov-'i ernment at its best, and if all thel world was like New Zealand, it| would be a happier place. Mr. Fraser can rest assured that we inl

Egypt will always do our best to make his countrymen feel at home, and the more that can come the better." Maadi Tent Organisation ' New Zealand troops are fortunate jin having an organisation like the jMaadi tent to provide refreshment and entertainment during the hours [of leave. For over a year this (organisation, subscribed to and istaffed by the residents of Maadi. has been providing recreational Ifacilities for New Zealand and 'British troops. This afternoon, in reply to a speech of welcome by Mr. Crawford, chairman of the tent. Mr. 'Fraser. who was paying an official visit, stated that the people of Xew Zealand had heard of the good work being done by the Maadi residents, and he considered it a privilege on their behalf to express appreciation and heartfelt thanks that their boys were being treated well in Egypt. Everywhere he had found the same unbounded hospitality. He was impressed with the kindness of those Egyptian people who were making it their business to look after NewZealand boys. i Mr. Fraser spent some time wandering amongst the tables chatting with small groups of men. He told them news from home, and listened with great interest to theif .tales of Greece. !