NEW ZEALAND EDITORS ON TOUR

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 58, 3 December 1918, Page 7

NEW ZEALAND EDITORS ON TOUR

MANY INTERESTING SCENES AND ~ ■ OCCASIONS • A NARRATIVE Mr. George I'enwick, a member of (lie New Zealand Press delegation which, on the invitation of Hie British Ministry of Information, was enabled lo make an instructive nml interesting tour of Great Britain during tim most momentous period of our history, hns written an account of what the delegates have seen,at first, hand of the tremendous activities of Britain nt war, of their meeting with Their Majesties the Kins and Queen and prominent men whose mimes .figure frequently in the cablegrams, and lastly, of their visits to the non'-hUloric battlefields on tho Western front and the Grand Fleet at sea. The narrative Uates;The editors and proprietors of tin; Dominion newspapers who left Auckland on Juno '15 last on a. visit to the United Kingdom and France as guests of the Imperial Government returned by the .Mnkurn to-day. They speak of their tour as having been most deeply interest- , int? from every point of view, and are satisfied that the Ministry of Information in bringing together leading journalists from all the overseas dominions, in order that they might judge for [ themselves of Britain's stupendous war work, conceived a wise and statesmanlike project. The tour has unquestionably., given Hie visitors an insight into , matters of Imperial import thai; could not liave been otherwise obtained, and has brought them into, personal touch with' leading statesmen of the Empire and other prominent public men, with' whom many questions of great importance to the nation's welfare have been discussed. Every facility was given them to inspect extensive munitions'factories in England and Scotland, the vast shipbuilding yards on the Clyde, the New Zealand military hospitals and training camps, and the widespread ramifications of Army work; and a memorable visit to Franco placed them in ; direct touch with the Ne,w Zealand forces in the field. . • 'With the Grand Fleet. In the earlier days of the (our a visit :was made to the Grand Fleet. Under the guidance of specially-appointed naval p officers a steamer conveyed the visitors to the , fleet in the li'irlh of Forth and the great lines of battleships, cruisers, .destroyers, submarines, and other comnonoufc parts of the Navy were passed under review, The New Zealand section of tho delegation was taken on board the battle-cruiser New .Zealand, prescnt.l'll to the .Bnipiro by Die' Dominion, and its members were cordially received, by the commander and .his principal officers. After an inspection of tho. "real warship, in the course, of which the visitors noticed with pride that (he part she took in the Jutland fight was inscribed in a prominent position, togother with her connection with, the .Dogger/Bunk incident, ii luncheon followed, nl which l.he health of the visitors was proposed by ( the .commander, m<l suitably responded to. The proceedings were characterised by great cordiality and enthusiasm, and success , to the ship and her commander haying been drunk, .a. most interesting visit closed with 'mutual good wishes and farewells. if any of the famous battleships of the Navy wore passed, their familiar nanics evoking much interest, and a profound impression was left on the, minds of the visitors. . • . . The Great Munitions Works. Tn referring to the. .war work in England and Scotland, members of the delegation say their visits lo tho Clyde shipbuilding yards and to the greiit munitions factories were most, impressive.. Tn - tho v foi'mer warships of all types and vessels for the mercantile marine were in process of construction, and the largest battleship ever constructed ,111 tho world had just been finished. The yards wero scenes of wonderful activity." and the sharp, fusillade of the pneumatic riveters was at times deafening. .. . '"A few. miles from.,Glasgow'two great .munitions factories were visited. One of these was largely devoted" to the manufacture of marine engines and other work of a heavy kind. Tt is a vast, concern .employing ten thousand 'hands, and is typical of other great factories employed on war.work throughout the Kingdom. 'The National Projectile Company's works, which employ four thousand hands,' two'thousand six hundred of whom are girls, were next visited. Hero nothing.but shells were made; .1 he girls were of a fiuo type. Earnest, hard-working, reliable, and ■ thoroughly fit home with their machines, they were turning-out enormous numbers of'shells, lhey were employed in one of tho principal shell factories in Britain, and under its capable and energetic management it had'for three years been-sup-plying tho Army with «' goodly part of one of its most necessary munitions requirements. Experiment in State Liquor Control, On its return journey tho delegation passed through Carlisle, where the Liquor Control Board has on hand an interesting, experiment in State control, of the liquor trade. It has purchased several hotels, and these are being run under competent management. With the elimination of private profit, the ealo of drink has been largely reduced. The Hotels are comfortable and quietly attractive, and it is claimed that so tar a considerable- measure of success has resulted from the experiment. Near Manchester (he delegates visited another lairge munitions works, where ,len thousand hands were .employed. A great diversity of work was bciusj turned out, including magnetos, and.it "is hoped tnat-the manufacture of this item of electrical equipment will'not again drift away from England, a.s it had done before the wnr. A feature of the work carined on was the restoration of big guns sent over from the battlefields after thev lind 'become-unfit for further use until robored and repaired. On the principle that everything had to give pla.ee to the winning of tho war, this fi reat cstablshment was an example of hundreds of .businesses which had been taken over by the Government and converted into munitions factories to the absolute dis location of old and profitable industrial trading. ' ■' ■

New Zealand War , Hospitals. Visits that wore paid to (lie New inland military hospitals at Walton-on-Thaines and Brockenliiirst, to liie great training eumps of Codford .ind Sling, on Salisbury Plain, and to the special hospitals and educational centres of Hornchurch,' Sidc.iiin, and Koeliampton, disclosed the great care I hat is being taken of Now Zealand troops. ;\nd tlio strong and intelligent efforts that are being made to equip the men v<l tli vocations that will enable them to againtafce their places in civil life. Technical education of many lands and of a, most valuable character is being' steadily given, ami quite surprising results have 'been attained, especially' in the cases of men who have lost limbs or have been maimed ii) other ivnys. The delegates had many opportunities of discussing important matters with members ( of the Government and other wellknown public men, and acquired much knowledge through their personpl emit net. with leading men of I lit , .Iviiiglloiii that , would not otherwise have been readily alhtiiwblc They ulsn had many" meetings with men at the head of such organisations us the T.M.C.A., I ho New Zealand War Conl.inpi'iit Association, the .Hed Cross, anil the Salvation Army, and they are satisfied that very line work has been, and is boing, doiio by tlie.se active r.ssocialioiH. II cannot be cimstiomM t.hiil; the Dominion's troops liiivc benclitcd enormously by I ho unllriiiß liiinianlnriaii efforts of these ijndii'H. ' On the Battlofronls, The ' inmubt'i's id' the iklcgnlion describo tliC'ir viuil. In luunce ami (ho biittlnrioiilH iih one of intense interest. They nioloi-ed long distnniius, and covered ground ivliich' will lor all lime be fumoilii as I he scones of ureal battles. They vMleil or pushed through nunibw's'.of Hi'! ruined Uiwns and villages of franco jiiid I'bimlcrs, f-aw from sevciai vaiiliign iiuinis acliw. Imslilitie.i jnweeding liiilwi'r'ii Ilii! Allies iiml the enemy, iutil. wi'ii! on ;i biilllctii'lil whiMT.but :i few hours iiri'vioiiily the; (icrniniiH had been driven from their trenches and dug-

outs by New Krnlnmi troops, and where, gniesoino evidence of the carnage still lay around, with Ihe lighting si ill m<>ce'eding not many - humlrrd' yards away. Many" ncqimintancw among the -.New /Sealund 'troops wore mi'l, and incssagrs given for relations and friends in the Dominion. In the course of their lour of .tbe battle ureas they had-the pleasure of meeting Sir Douglas 1-laig and Generals liuswll, Lawrence, and Home, all of,whom spoke in Hi"'highest leims i/f Hie New Zealand troops. They also met President Poincare and ,M. Clemenceau, each of whom spoke on the war ami Hid inllexible resolve of Prance that there should be no peace until Germany had been'absolutely beaten and uoinni-llert to accept the Allies' terms. How the Women Helped Tn even the most (iroum scribed account of their tour, the delegates say room must: be found for lefercm/e to the wholehearted manner in which women have taken their share in Britain's war work. It has been an inspiration to the other sex. Xor win any one class of the community claim special credit in respect to this. Whither it be in the taxing I!ed Cross or special hospital work taken," up by the leisured classes, or the humbler labour of the workers on the land, or the cheerful performance of unusual duties by the AVomen's Auxiliary Army Corps, or by the workers in ammunition factories,'(,r iii a score of other avenues in industrial life, the splendid work of (In- women ir bevond nil praise. AVithoiil this assistance it cannot be deputed that the British Army sent to trance inid p*hcr var nlners niu ; t not only have been =eriously restricted in numbers, but (hat it would have boon impn'sibl" to keen it adequately supplied with miiniU'iu* ai'd ntlior necessary equipincnt. The work of l:!je women of the nation will stand for nil time n< an outstandiiiTT feature of Hie war—» record of flic linos! service ever rendered to a country in a time' of trial mid neril such as national life has never previously had to meet! At Windsor Castle. On the social side of the delegates' 'visit first in point of interest and honour must be ulaced their presentation tn the King and Queen and the. Princess Mary at Windsor Castle. ' There' was nn entire absence of retraint at (his pleasant meeting, and Their, Majesties conversed freely will) tho members of the delegation end took great interest in Hie questions that were discu.ss.ed. Afternoon tea in the castle, brought to a close the very pleasant and interesting hour or tyro spent there. There were uiaiij: publin luncheons and dinuws at which important qnestioi's of thn dnv were by hosts mid visitors alike. Vuf- il u » loust intert'«ling of (liesp were dinners given by the T/inl and cily council}nr< of KdinbVrh. filasc-ow. Belfast, and Dublin resHOctivoly. and dinnevs or liincheiins by virions uublin bodies in 'Liverpno,',' Mimcliester. Hristol. Bath. Carlisle, and oilier'.places. Amoni these wii" h birirn liivcbcon civen by (ho Haudlev Page Co. lifter a visit lo (heir grpat aerodrome'a few milps out of T.ondou. c:i ■wliinh occasion' (be dnlpirnfe.' made, iin ascent lo a considernble hei;;hl in sinne of flic siilondid aernplancs owned by (he conipanv. . .

'A-vi'.-iM'o\TrolfiiHl, (no. was an oc'-:)sio;i of much interest. T.uin'heons and ilinm , : , .-! and nw'imrs with pu'olin men and wnminent S'lin I'Vinc-s t'ink place .-it 'J)ublin -iinil Hdfitst. al which sivrclics and convc!--ntii)ns on Iriiih (opics were' features. Valedictory. The last official function wps n farewell lunchpnn. given bv Lord Beaverbrook, at which he made an impressive mid telling eneeeb. responded (o mi behalf of the New Zealand delegation by its" chairman, who thanked the Minister and his official staff for all Ihf courtesy, kindlier, and alti'iitinn (he deleirates luul received at their hands, and made special acknowledgment of the interestiini .and valuable farewell speech which had been addressed lo them. The visit of the delegation .was brought to-a "lose on October I. on which d.atp (hoy .left for Liveronol and embarked on Oelnber C on an Atlantic liner for New York, on route for '-Vancouver , ,' whence they sailed by the Makura.