HOSPITALITY TO LOYALS

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30610, 28 November 1964, Page 16

HOSPITALITY TO LOYALS

“Like Home At Christmas”

Appreciation of “the lavish hospitality showered on us” have been expressed by the commanding officer of the Ist Battalion, The Loyal Regiment (Lieutenant-Colonel M. H. H. Collins) from Burnham Military camp. “Now that the contingent of my battalion which has been training in New Zealand for the last month is about to leave, 1 would like to make use of the columns of your paper to say a few inadequate words of thanks,” said Colonel Collins. “Before we came here we had heard that New Zealand was a friendly place, but never did we dream that we would be welcomed in such a whole-hearted and genuine fashion everywhere. “Many of my soldiers have said that they have found the atmosphere of this country to be ‘just like home’. I feel however, this is an understatement and it really should be ‘just like at home at« Christmas time’ as it is only really then that we in Britain show such a genuine happy and welcoming spirit as we have experienced everywhere and at all times in New Zealand.” Colonel Collins said he had not had time to thank personally all the many persons who had helped and entertained the Loyals during the tour. He expressed the hope that everyone would take his letter as a token of appreciation and thanks of all ranks of the battalion for all the help given and hospitality shown during its stay in the Dominion.