RECEPTION TENDERED

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 284, 28 August 1944, Page 6

RECEPTION TENDERED

Mr. And Mrs. D’Alton Guests Of Honour Members of the Hutt Valley women’s branch of the Labour Tarty were the hostesses at a reception tendered to the Australian High Commissioner to New Zealand, Air. T. G. D’Altou, and Mrs. D’Alton, recently, iu the R.S.A. rooms, Lower Hutt. Mrs. B. A. Logie, president. welcomed the guests of honour, who were accompanied by Airs. AV. Nash, wife of the Minister of Finance. Mr. Nash. The rooms were brightly decorated with beautiful spring flowers and foliage. Mr. D’Alton gave an informative address on Australia, stressing the need for understanding and unity between Australia aud New’Zealand. Particularly would this be necessary during the period of transition from war to peace, aud in the rehabilitation of both countries. Alf. D’Alton went on to say that the problem of rehabilitation was greater in Australia as there were 130.000 workers in munition factories and 65,000 women in the services, the Air Force having the majority of these. An interesting fact in regard to the conditions of women workers in Australia was that all women over 21 years of age received 00 per cent, of the wages paid to men. and where women worked on shift work they received equal pay with the men. Mr. D’Alton said that it was the desire of his wife and himself to meet the people of New Zealand, as it was personal contact and a human understanding of each other’s needs that would help in the time to come. Songs were sung by Mesdames Gorton and AVilman, with Airs. AlcDonald as accomnanist. and Airs. B. Anderson delighted the audience with her humorous items. Airs. Logie presented sprays of grape hyacinths and Australian wattle to Mrs. D’Alton and Mrs. Nash, and sprays of freesias and ferns to the artists. Afternoon tea was served.