FREEDOM OF EDINBURGH

Greymouth Evening Star, 15 May 1944, Page 4

FREEDOM OF EDINBURGH

CONFERRED ON MR. FRASER. (Official News Service.) LONDON, May 13. After a visit of only a few hours to Edinburgh, where he received the freedom of the city, the Prime Minister of New Zealand, Mr. Fraser, flew back to the south of England by special plane, yesterday, to join a party of Prime .Ministers inspecting invasion preparations with Mr. Churchill. Mr. Fraser was piloted by a New Zealander in the R.A.F., Flight Lieutenant Jordan of Palmerston North. He went to the airport straight from the freedom ceremony, where he had been made one of the burgesses of Edinburgh, the others being the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Sir John Anderson, and the Secretary of State for Scotland, Mr. Tom Johnston. Lord Provost, Sir William Darling presided and Mrs. Fraser., and the High Commissioner for New Zealand, Mr. W. J. Jordan were present. Introducing Mr. Fraser, the Provost described New Zealand. as a second Scotland. “Scottish in its foundation; Scottish in its heart and its head.” Mr. Fraser recalled old associations between New Zealand and Scotland, and thanked the people for the hospitality so generously extended to men from New Zealand. He added “nowhere on the earth are our men received with greater friendship, nor do they feel more at home, than in Scotland.” He referred to the comradeship in arms of Scottish and Dominion troops in the Middle East.

While Mr. Fraser flew south to rejoin Mr. Churchill and other Dominion leaders, Mrs. Fraser inspected three service clubs in Edinburgh, where many New Zealand servicemen had been made welcome.