VISIT TO BRITAIN

Grey River Argus, 17 May 1943, Page 2

VISIT TO BRITAIN

AUSTRALIAN AND N.Z. M’s.P. LONDON, M’ay 12. Members of the Australian and New' Zealand Parliamentary Delegation are seeing Britain under war conditions. They went direct from Buckingham Palace to the kitchen of the British Restaurant in Bethnal Green, the heart of London’s East End. Their Majesties, also the Princesses, received the delegation at the Palace, where Mr S. M. Bruce and Mr W. J .Jordan introduced each member. They answered many questions which Their Majesties and the Princesses asked about Australia and New Zealand. Mr Watkins, the leader of the Australian delegation, and the New Zealander, Mr L. G. Lowry, said Their Majesties recalled incidents on their tour of New Zealand and Australia .and asked what had become of a number of personalities then met. Senator Armstrong told Their Majecties how much Australia and New Zealand would like to see them again, and suggested that they and the Princess should make a “victory tour.” , Mr Jordan and Sir Drummond Shiels took the party to Bethnal Green, where Lord Latham, the Leader of the London County Council, explained that the local authorities had established chains of restaurants in- order to reinforce the country’s catering facilities. The London County Council conducted 258 such restaurants where many thousands were enabled to procure a well-balanced mid-day meal at a very reasonable cost. The delegates ate the same meal as hundreds of East Enders—roast beef, potatoes, and cabbage, with plums and rice, plus a cup of tea. The delegates, did not pay 15d like the East Enders in a queue for food or deposit their dirty dishes in the right place after eating, but they saw the East Enders doing it.

SOUTH AFRICAN TRADE UNION DELEGATION. LONDON, May 11. Trade union delegates from South Africa who have arrived in Britain for a conference told reporters today that they were impressed with the fighting spirit of the British people. . , , Among the subjects discussed at the conference were post-war reconstruction and closer relationship between British trade unions and those in the Dominions. A South African delegate, giving his impressions of visits to factories, said he was particularly struck by the excellent work the women were doing.