MR FRASER IN ENGLAND

Press, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23411, 19 August 1941, Page 9

MR FRASER IN ENGLAND

# BUSY SECOND WEEK

FOUR WAR CABINET MEETINGS

(0.C.) LONDON, July .8. Four meetings of the War Cabinet, two private talks with Mr Winston Churchill, and a luncheon at the country home ,of the Duke and Duchess of Kent were among the engagements which made a full second week in England for Mr Peter Fraser, the Prime Minister of New Zealand. After spending his second week-end with the High Commissioner, Mr Fraser had early callers on the Monday morning. They included Mr C. F. Waterson, the High Commissioner for South Africa, and Colonel Bernard Myers, commissioner in the United Kingdom for the New Zealand Red Cross and the Order of St. John. In the afternoon the Prime Minister paid an official call at New, Zealand House, where he visited every department and shook hands with the staff. On his return to Whitehall his callers included Mr Lanigan O'Keefe, High Commissioner for Southern Rhodesia, Lord Cranbbrne, the Dominions Secretary, and the Hon. Clive Pearson, chairman of the Overseas Airways Corporation. A meeting of the War Cabinet followed, after which Mr Fraser had a long conversation with General Sir Hastings Ismay, deputy-secretary to-the War Cabinet.

The following morning the Prime Minister talked with Mrs Kain. mother of the late Flying, Officer E. J. (“Cobber”) Kain, D.F.C. He also discussed current affairs and .• post-war reconstruction with Lord Balfour of Burleigh, chairman of the National Bank of New Zealand. Other callers were Dr. Kuo and Dr. W. C. Cheng, of the Chinese Embassy. At luncheon Mr Fraser Was entertained by the American newspaper correspondents in London.

That night the Prime Minister was the guest of Mr Edward Hulton, proprietor of "Picture Post,” at his private house in Berkeley square. In the warm, long summer evening dinner was served on a balcony. Guests included Mr J. B. Priestley and Mr Vernon Bartlett, M.P. An early caller at the Prime Minister’s room in the War Cabinet’s offices in Whitehall on the Wednesday morning was the Hon, Major Colin Campbell, a member of the Ontario Legislative Council, who visited New Zealand with Mr Mitchell Hepburn, former Prime Minister of Canada.

t At 11 a.m. Mr Fraser called on Mr Winston Churchill at No. 10 Downing Street, where he had a long private conversation with the British Premier. Returning to his room he received Group Captain J. L. Findlay, M.C., who is shortly returning to New Zealand. At luncheon Mr Fraser was the guest of the Lord Mayor of London, Sir George Wilkinson, at the Mansion House. Among the guests were Lord Essendon, Lord Hollenden, Lord Ashfield, Lord Luke, Field-Marshal Sir Claud Jacob (Constable of. the Tower), Mr Montagu Norman (Governor of the Bank of England), Mr Eustace Pulbrook (chairman of Lloyd’s), Mr R. B. Pearson (chairman of the Stock Exchange), and Mr Thomas Wiles (chairman of the Port of London Authority). Later that day Brigadier L. M. Inglis called on Mr Fraser. The final engagement was a War Cabinet meeting, which occupied the Prime Minister until after midnight. Shipping Problems On the Thursday morning he attended a conference at the Ministry of Shipping, when the New Zealand position was discussed. Later he received Lady Luba Fletcher, chairwoman of the case committee of the Polish Ireliel Fund, to'which the New Zealand Patriotic Fund Board has subscribed nearly £13,000. ~ , At luncheon Mr Fraser was the guest of Mr and Mrs Winston Churchill at 10 Downing Street. Several members of the War Cabinet were Present. Afterwards a conference followed with Sir Archibald Sinclair, Minister for after 5 o'clock Mr Fraser paid an official visit to the New Zealand Forces Club, where he met the voluntary helpers and members of the staff at New Zealand House. He expressed .to them the Governments thanks for the work they had done and the manner in which they had carried on during the air raids. Mr Fraser said that • the unstinted praise given to the club by the men he had met in Egypt was proof of its success and also of the enormous amount of work that had been dohe. The High Commissioner and Mrs Jordan were among those present. Dinner with Mr Hugh Dalton, Minister for Economic Warfare, followed. Later there was a meeting of the War Cabinet. Another meeting of the Wan Cabinet followed on the Friday morning, July 4, American Independence Day. Mr Fraser was u guest at the luncheon of the American Society, and later he visited Tooley street, where he examined an experimental consignment of unrefrigerated New Zealand butter and cheese. That night he was the guest at dinner of Mr Arthur Sims, chairman of the finance and general purposes committee of the New Zealand Forces Club, which was visited later. The Prime Minister found the club overflowing with its weekly dance. On the Saturday he had a conversation with General Sir Alan Brooke, C.8., D.5.0., Commander-in-Chief, Home Forces.

During the afternoon he motored to the country home of Lord Beaverbrook, Minister for Supply. A long informal talk followed after dinner. On the Sunday Mr Fraser had luncheon with the Duke and Duchess of Kent, Princess Helena Victoria, and Princess Marie Louise. In the afternoon he motored to the Warbrook Convalescent Home for New Zealanders, where he was received by Major H. D. Robertson (Waflganui). the medical officer, and Mrs Humphreys Owen. Mr Fraser talked with a number of New Zealanders in the various forces who are at “the home. It was a perfect summer day and tea was served on the lawn. Mr Fraser was accompanied by the High Commissioner, Mr C. A. Berend'sen, and Miss Jean McKenzie.