RECEPTION AT GREYMOUTH

Press, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 25244, 24 July 1947, Page 8

RECEPTION AT GREYMOUTH

“YOUR WONDERFUL COUNTRY”

LORD MONTGOMERY SEES BRIGHT FUTURE From Our Own Reporter

GREYMOUTH, July 23. “If you bring children up in. the idea that what matters in life is the man, you in New Zealand will never look back, with your wonderful country, very fine people, and good healthy j youth to take over the job,” said FieldMarshal Montgomery, in replying at the civic reception at Greymouth this evening.

“A great welcome” was Lord Montgomery’s description of his reception in Greymouth. Answering a statement by the Mayor (Mr E. A. Kitchingham’ that he had not seen much of New Zealand he said that indeed he had seen a great deal more of the country than most people who lived in New Zealand. They had rushed him round like an express train. Lord Montgomery made everybody feel at ease when he was asked to speax into another microphone. Breaking off his speech, he moved a few yards across the stage. “So you want me to speak from here?” he inquired Characteristically, he wanted to know why. “Now where does this one go?’ he asked. When told “Outside,” he node ed and shifted the Minister of Defence (Mr F. Jones) across to his vacant seat. “I can’t turn my back on the Minister,” he said, with a laugh.

New Zealand Lucky To understand how fine New Zealand was, people had to go away from it or visit it. said Lord Montgomery Given a certain amount of work. New Zealand had the means for great prosperity. With the country and their pecnle there was really nothing that they wanted. They were indeed lucky The Mayor recalled that although the Grey district had only 2 per cent, of New Zealand’s population, soldiers had returned from ‘he 1914-18 war and the World War with Victoria Crosses. They were Lieutenant Sam Friekleton and Sergeant Jack Hinton. He said people believed that Lord Montgomery’s genius as a commander and leader had placed him among immortals m British history. The Mayor of Hokitika (Mr P. R. Elcock) and the president of the Greymouth Returned Services’ Association (Mr O. McLean) supported the Mayor.

VISIT TO WESTPORT TO-DAY

From Our Own Reporter GREYMOUTH, July 23. To-morrow Lord Montgomery will drive to Westport for a brief visit. He will leave at noon by air for Nelson, flying later in the afternoon to Blenheim. where his South Island tour will end on Friday morning.