“Picture Of England Is Not Too Hot”

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30154, 11 June 1963, Page 12

“Picture Of England Is Not Too Hot”

(New Zealand Press Association)

NEW PLYMOUTH, June 10 "The picture is not too hot," the Governor-Gene-ral, Sir Bernard Fergusson. told a New Plymouth audience tonight when speaking of the present "image of the Old Country.’’

The news over the last two days had been distasteful and perhaps there was more to follow, said • his Excellency speaking at a civic reception He asked New Zealanders not to judge England by the things they had been reading lately England, he declared, was still as sound as ever.

In the several months he nad been in New Zealand, Sir Bernard Fergusson said, it sometimes struck him that the image of Britain projected by the newspapers was not impressive He was not blaming the journalists for that —he had been one himself for tour years—but he appealed to New Zealanders not to lose their perspective, not to think that England was “all beardies and wierdies" and was going decadent There had been some fairly discouraging images, "but." his Excellency added, “please take it from me that England. Scotland. Ireland and Wales are as sound as ever they were "

Soundness was not news, however. Eccentricity was, and to make his point Sir Bernard Fergusson quoted: It England was what England seems. Not the Englana of out d-earns. If only pvtti/ brass and point. We'd chuck her. drop herbal she ain’t. Re-emphasising that the Old Country was as good as ever,, his Excellency pointed out that it was the people who did not make news—the ordinary stock —who counted. “Don't be put off by the eccentricities you read of from time to time," he said.