N.Z. SOLDIER’S RESOURCE

Press, Volume LXXXVI, Issue 26032, 8 February 1950, Page 3

N.Z. SOLDIER’S RESOURCE

TRUCK MENDED WITH CHEWING GUM

GUARDS OFFICER MEETS COMRADES OF WAR

The resource of a Christchurch soldier, Mr L. J. Hawkins, has made a lasting impression on Major Michael Crichton-Stuart, a regular officer of the Scots Guards, who is now visiting Christchurch. When Major CriohtonStuart was in charge of a patrol in the legendary Long Range Desert Group, the truck he commanded broke down in the middle of the desert. To mend it solder was needed —and there was no solder. Mr Hav/kins fixed the truck by mixing army chewing gum with sand, and the compound he made kept the truck running for more than 1000 miles.

Yesterday, Major Crichton-Stuart, an English landowner and a nephew of the Marquess of Bute, met Mr Hawkins in Christchurch, and also met other New Zealanders from the Long Range Desert Group, including Mr Trevor Barker, who used to fly the group’s one aircraft, and Mr Alister Guild. . The primary reason for Major Crichton-Stuart’s visit to New Zealand was to renew acquaintance with the New Zealanders he knew in the Long Range Desert Group. In his tour he has met many friends, and spent one evening talking over with the Governor General, Sir Bernard Freyberg, V.C., the deeds of the L.R.D.G. in the Middle East. Another reason for Major CrichtonStuart’s visit to New Zealand was to study New Zealand farming methods. Soon Major Crichton-Stuart will take over the active management of the family estates at Fife, in Scotland. While he was extremely interested in New Zealand farming, he finds no standard of comparison between it and farming in Britain. He envied, he said, the farm lands of the North Island, which benefited so much from the annual rainfall there. As a Scotsman, however, he preferred the South Island, and “ e was loud in his praises of the Mackenzie Country. Refusing to be drawn on the fortncoming general election in Britain (although he thinks that Labour may be returned), Major Crichton-Stuart said that it was clear that whatever Government—Conservative or Labour —came into power, the farmers of Britain would be sure of excellent treatment for the next 10 or 15 years. “Our biggest need is food.” he said. “Guaranteed prices will stay for farmers, whatever the Government." Farming in Britain was completely different from farming in New Zealand. In Britain it was still largely on the landlord-tenant basis, and as things were now, that basis favoured the tenant. No tenant could be put off land unless it was shown that he was a bad farmer. “There are precious few bad farmers about these days,’’ he added. Major Crichton-Stuart was one ot the original officers of the Long Range Desert Group. He was seconded from the Scots Guards to lead the first patrol in the group, and in his year with one of the most spectacular units of the Middle East war he came to know many New Zealanders —-officers and other ranks —who formed its nucleus. He later returned to the Scots Guards, and the battalion to which he was attached suffered heavy casualties in the Knightsbridge battle. Major Crichton-Stuart is now engaged in writing a history of the work of Englishmen in the Long Range Desert Group, and has picked up much information from New Zealanders. In Christchurch he was the guest of Mr Heathcote Helmore.