HOME AGAIN

Dominion, Volume 38, Issue 258, 28 July 1945, Page 9

HOME AGAIN

Washington Impressions Among Millington people who returned this week from a visit to Washington, D.C., was Miss Freida Preistley, who is a sister of Mrs. Reid, wife of Mr. John Reid, first secretary to the New Zealand Legation nt Washington. She made the trip to the United States in charge of the Reid children, who had been left behind in Wellington. Miss Preistley said that when she arrived in Washington early last March the ground was ail brown and hard after the winter," yet a fortnight later there was a complete metamorphosis; the grass had sprung up as if by magic, the leaf buds were bursting, and there were spring blossoms everywhere. The change from the drab lifeless hues of winter to the dazzling colours of spring was unusual to New Zealand eyes. Washington, was, of course, a wonderful place both in regard to its natural beauty and the immense activity of its commercial and political life, she said.

Since the war the city had grown tremendously, and yet people found the utmost difficulty in getting accommodation, and when they did manage to secure it the cost was high. That was specially hard on New Zealanders, for New Zealand money was of much less value there than in England. Life could be made very exciting and interesting there, but she thought the majority of the New Zealanders whom she met would rather be back home.