LORD NORTHCLIFFE

Evening Post, Volume CII, Issue 49, 26 August 1921, Page 8

LORD NORTHCLIFFE

ARRIVAL AT AUCKLAND

APPRECIATION OF. CORDIAL

WELCOME.

AUCKLAND, This Day.

When a reporter climbed aboard the Makura this morning in the harbour he had no difficulty in finding Lord Narthclifle, wlio is very like his photograph, but looked more animated. He was going over a sheaf of cablegrams, and was very pleased with the warm wulcomes he had received from the Australian and New Zealand Governments, The cable of Sir J. Cook, Acting-Prime Minister of the Commonwealth, lead : "Australia-'s most cordial greetings. Let me warmly welcome a firm and constant friend. Ministers would foel honoured if you would lunch with us on 13th Sep-t-ember."

While he does not care for public fuss, Lord Northcliffo appreciates wonderfully the cordial manner in which the overseas Dominions welcome one. "It is a very curious sensation," said Lord Northcliffe, "when one -finds a bit of England right on the other side of the world. When I woke at 6 o'clock this morning, I looked but of a and saw the coast-lime, exactly like- that of Hampshire, near Bournemouth, and the entrance reminded me of the Solent. I have always felt great interest in the Antipodes; I was practically brought up on Captain Cook^s narratives."

"Of course, they say you ar» going to start a newspaper out in Australia,", from a, pressman, drew from Lord Northcliffo the retort that it was the same wherever he went. He had not the slightest intention of doing any such thing. "I am. out on a holiday," he said emphatically. Hisi main object in making suoh a long tour was to study Pacific problems. He was convinced it was the coming centre of interest. He pointed out what wonderful changes had happened in the last hundTed years. Fiji impressed Lord . Northcliffe very much. "I was much struck with tho rapid change of the climate in three days," he added, and suggested moving over to, the sunny side of the .ship. "There is a kick in yom- Auckland atmosphere this time of the year that reminds one of New York during their Indian summer."

Lord Northcliffe is too wise to discuss colonial matters on the strength of a few hours' run down the coast, but said he had naturally studied the press of the Dominion. He considered that for the size of population that it was the best in the world..

This morning li c took his kit of sticks to the Middlemore Golf Links, and had an interesting round. He intends to play a. round or two at Hamilton, which he will visit to-moi-row, to "get some idea of th© pastoral side of New Zealand; Then he goes on to Rotorua with some New Zealand friends ki continuation of his study of Pacific problems. He is booked for the East after visiting Australia, and, intends making as close,an acquaintance with China and Japan as time permits. :