NEW ZEALAND’S PROGRESS

Press, Volume XCIV, Issue 28128, 17 November 1956, Page 4

NEW ZEALAND’S PROGRESS

PRAISE BY BRITISH VISITOR

WAR-TIME LORD MAYOR OF LONDON

Great improvement in the service given in New Zealand hotels has been noticed by Sir Frank NewsonSmith, a war-time Lord Mayor of London and vice-president of the Automobile Association. He is visiting Christchurch for a week during a tour of the Dominion, and in an interview he compared his impressions on a brief visit to New Zealand In November. 1949, with those he has now gained. Sir Frank Newson-Smith said he was very impressed with the great improvement he had seen in New Zealand m many spheres. The roads and bridges were much better than when he was here previously. It seemed that there had been a great uplift in work throughout the country. When he was here in 1949, Sir Frank Newson-Smith was critical of the service in hotels. He was quoted from the official bulletin of the Automobile Association (Auckland) as saying that “your country is killing its own tourist trade,” and that he was “frankly amazed at the casual indifference, if not downright rudeness. with which many members Gf hotel staffs in New Zealand so frequently treat guests.” On this visit, Sir Frank NewsonSmith said, he had found the service in hotels much better. Staffs were more courteous, and he had also found the same improvement in shops. He said he was not visiting New Zealand for any particular purpose, but he had so enjoyed himself here in 1949 that he wanted to renew some of the friendships he made then. Interest in Motoring Speaking of Automobile Association affairs, Sir Frank Newson-Smith said an official deputation from Britain would be visiting New Zealand shortly to discuss matters of common interest. Motoring organisations had good co-operation. While in Christchurch, he would meet members of the executive of the Automobile Association (Canterbury). Now oged 77, Sir Frank NewsonSmith was Lord Mayor of London in 1942-43, during air raid attacks, and he was actively engaged in his official capacity in the organisation of rescue operations and first aid. As well as his post with the Automobile Association, he has also been a member of the London Stock Exchange since 1900, and he was Sheriff of the City of in 1939. He is a governor of London House, which deals with Commonwealth students, Sutton’s Hospital in Charterhouse. Christ’s Hospital, Dover College, and Bedford College. As well as holding positions in various London guilds, he was also chairman of a Government committee on business training in 1945 and president of the London Chamber of Commerce from 1946 to 1948. Sir Frank Newson-Smith arrived in New Zealand about a month ago, and since then has been in Auckland and Wellington. He will go back to Auckland on November 26, and. will return to England in February. Yesterday Sir Frank Newson-Smith was the guest of the Overseas League at lunch.