AMERICAN PARTY

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23319, 12 April 1939, Page 13

AMERICAN PARTY

A GOODWILL TOUR CEMENTING FRIENDSHIP HELP FOR THE EMPIRE The promotion of closer understanding and friendship between New Zealand and the .United States is the object of a party of Americans, most of whom are members of the Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce, who arrived from Sydney by the Awatea yesterday. The party, which now numbers 13, originally consisted of 51 members, who recently made a goodwill tour in Australia. The majority passed through Auckland last week by the Mariposa on their return to the United States. Several members of the party expressed the view that the time was never more opportune for the cementing of the bonds of friendship between the United States and the British Empire. Their problems were similar. Unrest and strife in Europe were affecting the whole world. In the event of trouble, they thought, Britain could rest assured of the moral support of the United States. Some people there were in favour of active support, but upon this question opinion was divided. Some considered that the United States had not received fair treatment after the Great War.

Members of the party are all, looking forward to their goodwill tour of New Zealand, about which they have heard a great deal. "When we started- out we just thought it would be a long water trip with a couple of cities at the end, but we have been agreeably surprised," said one member .of the party. "We have seen some line harbours, some beautiful scenery and beautiful buildings." After remaining in Auckland for a few days, the party will visit tho Waitomo Caves, New Plymouth, Wellington, Nelson, Westport, Hokitika, Franz Josef Glacier, Christchurch, Palmerston North, Napier, Wairakei and llotorua. They will be in the Dominion about threo weeks.