OUR VISITORS.

Evening Star, Issue 19020, 15 August 1925, Page 6

OUR VISITORS.

"Let us Tic liomey,” said the lato President Harding. Tlio only complaint that has been made of our reception of our American guests is that we have not been “ homey ” towards the rank and file of them. Wo are not aware that they are still feeling any of that neglect locally, but it was felt during the first few days. The position was just a little difficult. All ratings of them had a first-class time in Melbourne. Now Zealand has a reputation for its hospitality, and they were told in Melbourne that they wmtld be taken still more warmly to the hearts ol the people here. Hut Dunedin is a much smaller city than Melbourne. Two thousand visitors at once make a large number for it to entertain. And Dunedinitos naturally are a reserved people; they do not wear-their hearts upon their sleeve. Tt has been as easy as it has been agreeable to entertain tiie officers of the squadron. They are a comparatively small number. Hut there has been a danger of too many of the men, much against the desire of their hosts, being loft out in the cold. It has been so in Auckland, where measures are being taken to enlarge the official programme so that they may not foci that they have been overlooked. Our own official programme has done much more, till now, for officers than for men. We are doing better to-day for the rank and file. They will make far the largest proportion of parties totalling 600 who are distributed in excursions to Oamarn, Mosgicl, and Milton. But it has been questioned whether, as individuals, wo are doing enough. A. correspondent, struck by the way in which many of the “ White Caps ” seem to have no resort but the streets in dull weather, has suggested that more invitations to the homos of citizens would he a boon to them. Tt is a hint that has everything to commend it, though we are glad to think that it may be less needed now than it was at the commencement of their visit. Invitations of the kind suggested have bceu multiplied, we believe, in the past few days, and, if tics of kinship made, no claim to such hospitality, the merits of our guests as they have been displayed would lie ample to deserve it. Tliev are admirable hosts themselves, as they showed by their attentions to the crowds of children, representing the schools’ branch of Ihe Navy League, who visited the destroyers yesterday. Twenty-five thousand o.f them have been now iu New Zealand ports since Tuesday last—some of them longer—and not one act has been reported to their discredit. That in itself would make a fine record for any nation or for any licet. Wo are given to understand that,. at tho present stage, the rank and file of our Dunedin visitors are being well regaled with private hospitality. The time has passed when, but lor Q shed on tho wharf and the entertainment provided there under the Y.M.C.A.’s supervision, they would have found some evenings drag with leaden feet. No efforts should he spared to see that, for tho remainder of their stay, tho hospitality accorded to them ■shall l io. as “ homey ” as tho warmesthearted of onr visitors —whoso hearts are not warmer than those of Dunedin people—can desire.