INTEREST IN N.Z.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIV, Issue 204, 28 August 1943, Page 6

INTEREST IN N.Z.

HAS COME TO SEE

WOMEN'S PART IN WAR

The charm of Mrs. Eleanor Roosevelt was felt immediately she faced a large gathering of male and female journalists at a Press conference held in the officers' mess within half an hour of her arrival at an air station near Auckland from America yesterday afternoon. She shook hands with each of them, remarking, "I don't know whether you shake hands in this country, but we do in ours," and she smiled with genuine friendship at each introduction.

Mrs. Roosevelt's voice was soft and easy-flowing, with only a slight accent, and her smile was so warm and ready one felt it must mean as much to Americans as Queen Elizabeth's smile is to the British people.

The new interest American people are taking in New Zealand, the work women, are doing in the war, and their future part in world affairs, her impressions of the Americans she had visited on her journey, and her excitement at crossing the Equator and the international date line for the first time—these were some of the topics discussed by Mrs. Roosevelt.

"I have come to see the work of women in New Zealand, to visit my countrymen in the services here, and to see the activities of the American Red Cross," said Mrs. Roosevelt. She added that the director of the American Red Cross had asked her to make the visit as a special representative of the Red Cross. American Women Alert Asked-about the effect of the war on American women and their outlook, Mrs. Roosevelt said: "More women are taking a deep interest in post-war activities than in the past. There is an awakened sense of responsibility as to the part they must play in reconstruction, both nationally and internationally. Women are realising that no people can shut themselves off any more." Regarding reconstruction and the remedying of social problems, it was among women that interest was particularly strong, Mrs. Roosevelt said. In reply to another question, she said she. definitely believed in equal opportunities for women. She was convinced that equal pay for equal work must embrace all kinds of work, not just a few. Mrs. Roosevelt stressed the need of preventing a reaction of forgeting about the war when it was over, because it was unpleasant. "In the past we have tried to do this, but this time we must remember the terrible things that have happened in this war, and see that they do not happen again." Interest in Dominion

Asked about the greater interest America now showed in New Zealand, Mrs. Roosevelt said: "Before the war there was little contact between our two countries, but now the boys are writing home saying how well they are being looked after here, how appreciative they are of being taken into your homes, and perhaps (with a smile), how they want to come back here to stay when the war is over."

Most of the Press representatives were surprised when Mrs. Roosevelt said she had never crossed the Equator before, as she is known to be a much-travelled woman. She was, she said, excited at being in the Pacific for the first time, and she spoke of the beauty of the atolls, "so small that I wondered how our planes found them or that the waves did not wash them away." Mrs. Roosevelt added that the journey had been very pleasant, with good weather. In her visits to the troop centres she had carried a message of thanks and good fortune from her husband, the President, to the men, whom he had said were doing a grand job. She was impressed with the truth of that message after what she had seen. Her impressions of the men were the same as those she had carried away from Britain and other places where she had visited servicemen. The soldiers were not imbued with any thought of a glorified war, but merely with the reality of a job which had to be faced. They wanted to do it as well as they could.

It is expected that Mrs. Roosevelt will spend two days in Auckland on her return from Wellington. There will be a civic reception in the Town Hall at 12.30 p.m. on Wednesday.

Rotorua will probably be visited on one day, and if this eventuates the Maori people will tender a welcome.