LORD MAYOR HERE

Press, Volume C, Issue 29599, 23 August 1961, Page 14

LORD MAYOR HERE

Commonwealth Tour (N.Z. Press Association) AUCKLAND, Aug- 22. ,o The J x>rd Mayor of London <Sir Bernard Waley-Cohen) and members of his partyarrived in Auckland by air tonight from Australia. They were met at the airport by the Mayor of Auckland (Mr D. M. Robinson) and the Deputy-Mayor (Mr F. N. Ambler). Sir Bernard Waley-Cohen. who is making a tour of Commonwealth countries, said that the Lord Mayor of London was one of the few people in the world who travelled without an axe to grind.

“I hope that the close and intimate friendship that for so long has existed between the great sister nations of the Commonwealth and between the United Kingdom and New Zealand may be made even closer by my visit,” he said.

“It is unlikely that any harm can come from such a visit and it is my hope that some good can come from it.”

He said he was aware of the goodwill that existed between the people of New Zealand and the people of Britain, and he was pleased to be the first Lord Mayor of London to visit New Zealand while holding office. He looked forward to bringing to the larger cities of the Dominion something of the panoply and ceremony associated with the office of the Lord Mayor of London. He was accompanied by Sheriff A. K. Kirk, Mr Deputy H. W. Keith Calder, the Chief Commoner; Colonel B. J. D. Lumsden, the swordbearer; and Brigadier P. J. E. Clapham, the Common Cryer and Sergeant-at-Arms.

The Lady Mayoress, Lady Waley-Cohen, will join the party from Australia on Thursday, accompanied by Brigadier R. H. S. Popham, the City Marshal.

Sir Bernard and Lady Waley-Cohen, who have four children, make a practice of never travelling in the same aircraft in case of an accident.