Best years of a chief’s life

Press, Volume CX, Issue 32459, 20 November 1970, Page 6

Best years of a chief’s life

When Dame Flora MacLeod, of MacLeod, chief of the Clan MacLeod, recorded a 8.8. C. radio series, “The Best Years of My Life,” in 1968, she says she startled many people by telling them the best years were her most recent.

At 92 that it quite an achievement, but then Dame Flora MacLeod makes the cli- che young-at-heart wholly credible.

At 70 she discovered a farflung “loving family”—her clan—and has been visiting them ever since. When she was 80 she became involved in the Moral Rearmament I Movement, through her grandson. Patrick, and his wife, and has found friends all over the world.

She maintains a lively interest in politics, eagerly following the career of her younger grandson, Patrick Woolridge Gordon, for whom she campaigned when he was elected the Conservative M.P. for East Aberdeenshire in 1964 at the age of 23.

Now a little frailer than when she last visited Christchurch—six years to the day —Dame Flora MacLeod proved a fluent conversation■alist during an interview shortly after her arrival from Wellington yesterday morning. Far from formidable—tiny and gentle in fact—the chief ranged over a wide variety of subjects, from her admiration for the British Prime Minister (Mr Heath), “he’s courageous, he’ll take unpopular decisions,” to her faith in the young generation. ‘FRIGHTENING’ At home in Britain times were “anxious and exciting.” Displaying the time-honoured Scottish regard for measured expenditure, Dame Flora approves the Heath Government’s “putting a brake on the run-away extravagances of the last few years.” "Of course, we have inflation, as everywhere else. It really,is frightening.” She has been following the petrol tax debate in Parliament since she has been in New Zealand, and finds the > parallel with the United Kingdom of industrial strife and price freeze in this country interesting. And she is keenly aware of New Zealanders’ interest in Britain’s proposed entry to the Common Market. Diplomatically, she puts New Zealand’s interests 1 almost on a par with those of Britain. “I’m convinced Britain will not go into the Common Market unless the terms are right,” she said. “The British people realise New Zealand occupies a unique position. I was delighted to read your Minister of Overseas Trade had a very satisfactory talk with the

Italians, and that they tbo were fully aware of the position of New Zealand.”

Undoubtedly, her sympathy for New Zealand and her concern with the Commonwealth, is sincere.

‘l’ve always said it’s very difficult for ordinary people to have a valid opinion about a subject as complex as the Common Market,” she said. “But people should think of the advantages and disadvantages of going in, or staying out. PROSPECTS “If going in means the whole European market will be open to us that would be terribly good. If we were barred from Europe our trade would suffer very seriously. “For the sake of the Commonwealth, which is very, very dear to British hearts, its enormously important that Britain should remain a wealthy trading nation and therefore a very valuable trading partner.” And the reported lessening of enthusiasm for entry among the British? “It’s easy to blow up the protests of those who take every opportunity to decry entry.” Dame Flora MacLeod disapproves of government subsidies for farm products, and believes in “selling at market price.” The housewife, confronting the prospect of increased food costs, should be reassured. “The argument is that taxes would go down because they would not have to pay the subsidies.” POLITICS At which point in the conversation the chief inquired after the interviewer’s politics, with the comment that it was important for young people to take a part in such things. “You are ultimately responsible for the future,” she said. Although Dame Flora MacLeod believes today’s young people are "more thoughtful and responsible than earlier generations” she is concerned about the permissive society, "People don’t like the word discipline. They hate the idea of self-control, and they don’t know what unselfishness means.” The chief would like her clan, particularly the younger members, to get together and discuss such things as student participation in university administration, and sex education. The kinship of the clan is important to her. As the 28th chief she carries on its traditions, living in the 700-year-old clan castle, Dunvegan Castle, on the Isle of Skye. She hopes her grand-

son John MacLeod of MacLeod (40 minutes older than his twin Patrick) will follow the old ways when he becomes the 29th Chief. OPERA SINGING Now he is continuing his opera singing studies in Germany. Dame Flora MacLeod has made over the land and castle to him’, occupying it in his absence and paying a rent. “He likes the castle best in the off-season, when he has it to himself.” A popular tourist attraction, the castle was visited by 36,000 tourists last summer. Soon it will be the scene of the clan’s sixth parliament, held every three years. It is an occasion to which the chief is-greatly looking forward. “People will come from all over the world to discuss clan business. There will be lots of families, and we will have picnics and expeditions, dances and concerts. It’s always a lovely time,” she smiled. . The photograph shows Dame Flora MacLeod with Mrs W. S. Mac Gibbon, a vice-president of the Clan MacLeod Society of Canterbury and the chief’s Christchurch hostess (right) at Christchurch International Airport yesterday morning. Anne MacLeod (left), and her sister Juliet, daughters of Mrs J. O. MacLeod, of Loburn, also a society vice-president, presented Dame Flora MacLeod with a bouquet of flowers.