STATE LUNCHEON

Evening Post, Volume CXXVII, Issue 61, 14 March 1939, Page 10

STATE LUNCHEON

SIR H. BATTERBEE

MR. SAVAGE'S WELCOME

"AMONG FRIENDS"

A State luncheon was tendered today to Sir Harry Batterbee, High Commissioner in New Zealand for tha United Kingdom, and Lady Batterbee. The Prime Minister (the Rt. Hon. :M. J. Savage) presided, and the function was attended by Ministers of the Crown members of Parliament, heads of De-' partments, and members of the foreign Consulates. In extending a welcome to the guests, the Prime Minister said he knew that he was speaking in the names of thosepresent when he said that they were amongst friends, and that they would feel at home before they were very long here. Sir Harry. Batterbee came to New Zealand at a very interesting time—a time when civilisation, ona could truthfully say, was in the melt» ing pot. The time had arrived .fo? people to meet round the conference table rather than to write letters to one another, and when the nations* barriers should not be any hindrance to carrying out principles that would carry civilisation to higher standards. There was any amount of room for improvement in the world today. "We are facing great difficulties and great issues," said Mr. Savage: "It is not sufficient to be able to communicate by cable and by wireless; it i 3 better to meet people face to face, and here we have a representative of the British Government in the flesh. Ha can give expression to the mind behind the communications. We can. get anything on paper, but we cannot get the human point of view until we meet the man who is representing the men and women on the other side of the earth." Rumour had had it that Sir Harry had a lot of offices to fill when h« came here, said Mr. Savage, but rumour was not always correct. Ha was the first to occupy this high position in New Zealand, and the speaker did not think he would ever run out of a job. STRAIGHTENING OUT DIFFICULTIES. "I hope that when he has anything to say, he will be able to find the Prime Minister, or any other Minister, and if he runs out of a job he will be the only man out of work," said Mr. Savage. They were trying to straighten out their difficulties in New Zealand, and who could say that they were not on the threshold of reaching a solution to some of the world's difficulies? No one wanted to go to war, said Mr. Savage, and it was only those who represented the people who seemed to be in the road. Anyone who was in the road should get out and make way for someone who wanted to establish the Kingdom of God. Mr. Savage added that Sir Harry was here to take up a great work, and they welcomed him with all their hearts. ' ••'♦ SIR HARRY'S THANKS. In extending thanks for the welcome. Sir Harry said that the reception- extended to him and his wife was a great encouragement, to him. He recalled that his appointment had its origin In a recommendation from the Imperial Conference of 1926. As a result of that recommendation United Kingdom High Commissioners had been appointed in Canada, Australia, . arid South Africa. His functions here would be similar to those of Mr. Jordan at Home, and he wished to express his gratitude to Mr. Jordan for the kindnesses that had been shown him and his wife in preparation for their trip to New Zealand.