Parliamentary Delegates’ Tour

Northern Advocate, 17 May 1943, Page 4

Parliamentary Delegates’ Tour

LONDON, May 14. New Zealand and Australian parliamentary delegates today received a most practical illustration of the British control of the English Channel. Aboard a motor torpedo-boat they saw units of the British Navy and Allied planes doing routine jobs without interruption from the enemy, although ihe weather in the Channel was excellent. Delegates also inspected coastal defences and heard, as well as saw. big guns. "The New Zealanders put a most marvellous finale to the great dramatic performance,” said Mr Attlee, referring to the African campaign in a speech on the Dominion’s contribution to the war effort.

"The Dominions are treading not the path which leads to independence, but to inter-dependence. -When people grow up their family affections remain. That is abundantly true of the Dominions. It is in times of stress that our family ties grow so strong. The effect of the war on the Dominions has been an increase in their national development, without the slightest degree of impairing the unity of the commonwealth.” Messrs. Lowry and Endean visited the New Zealand Spitfire and Typhoon squadrons and spent some time chatting with the pilots in dispersal huts. The Spitfire pilots had just returned from an uneventful sweep. They went out again immediately after the Parliamentarians left, taking part in the operation in which Flying Fortresses bombed Meaulte.

Messrs. Lowry and Endean today are visiting Cardiff. Birmingham, Stafford, Liverpool, Blackpool, Glasgow, Edinburgh and Yoi’k. One of their first engagements in London was a luncheon with the New Zealand Society when they met prominent New Zealanders. M’r. Jordan presided. They were delighted with their visit to Buckingham Palace. They were particularly interested to hear the Princesses inquiring about New Zealand, saying they had heard much about its fishing, and hoped to visit the Dominion.