GOODWILL VISIT

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 23863, 14 January 1941, Page 82

GOODWILL VISIT

ME. NOEL COWAED

ARRIVAL IN AUCKLAND TRAVELS DURING WAR "I have long wanted to see New Zealand, and now that I am here at last I feel sure of a delightful time," said Mr. Noel Coward, the well-known playwright, composer and actor, in an interview after his arrival yesterday by the Mariposa from Sydney to spend three weeks in the Dominion .as guest of the Government.

Mercurial and full of nervous energy, Mr. Coward at 41 is still in spirit the brilliant young man whose versatility astonished the English - speaking theatrical world nearly 20 years ago. After a strenuous six weeks in Australia, he has come to New Zealand as a messenger of goodwill from the Old Country, to broadcast and gi-ve public entertainments in aid of patriotic funds.

Australian Impressions "I confess that I did not attempt to 'read up' either Australia or New Zealand beforehand,'' he said yesterdav. •'Descriptions and even photographs create impressions which are lar irora the reality. 1 have found dt best to do one's study after, and not before. Still, 1 know enough about your beautiful country to be certain that I shall carry away pleasant memories." Mr. Coward admitted that his Australian tour had been strenuous. In six weeks he had travelled thousands of miles, visited all six States a ltd received, as he estimated, at least 1400 handshakes a day. A friend's loan of a remote holiday cottage had given him a most welcome rest before | his departure. The Commonwealth impressed him by the vastuess of its spaces and the goodwill of its people, which enabled him to raise £IO.OOO for the Red Cross, plus £2OOO and. more at a final matinee in aid of bombed civilians in London.

War Work in France Speaking of his activities since the outbreak of war, lie said that until April he acted as a liaison officer for the British Ministry of Information, visiting various parts of the front from his headquarters in Paris, and making periodical trips to London. Having spent six weeks' leave in attending to his theatrical interests in the United States, he flew by Clipper to Lisbon, where the British Ambassador refused him a permit to go to Paris and collect his staff, which escaped soon after with the office records and little more. After that he was sent to the United States by the Minister, Mr. Duff Cooper, but plans were changed and his mission was held up. Having done some work for the American Red Cross, he was invited by the Australian Minister at Washington, Mr. R. G. Casey, to make a tour of Australia; hence his present trip.

Anglo-Saxon Relations The tenor of his present broadcasts, which had been very carefully pi-epared, was that the tery closest relations among all the English-speaking peoples were necessary if they were to win the war and to uphold their way of life, which he believed to be the best in, the world. This task would not end with victory, but must be persevered in unitedly amid the countless difficulties that would ensue. To promote the same object, he would broadcast in the United States upon Australia and New Zealand after leaving this country. He also hoped to interpret the sentiment of Britain here. No praise could be too high for the fortitude of her people, and he felt that it was the duty of those who were articulate to express themselves about it. As for the entertainment side of his mission. Mr. Coward said, he was mostly singing his lighter compositions in his* own peculiar way, which he hoped his New Zealand anudiences would be able to tolerate. Mr. Coward was met on board the liner by Mr. F. B. Stephens, of the Department of Internal Affairs, and was welcomed by the Mayor, Sir Ernest Davis. SPIRIT OF VICTORY GROWTH OF NEW FORCE TWO ADDRESSES GIVEN "To my mind, the spirit of the people of England so far transcends mere words that to talk about it seems an impertinence," said Mr. Noel Coward in his first New Zealand broadcast address last night. "We are luckier than the future." he added, "we are living in the glow of a clear flame that lights up the whole world." In spite of the death and destruction that were raining down on Britain, lie said earlier, he was far from pessimistic, and he had not the slightest doubt about the ultimate outcome. There was a force growing in the world that would not rest until the vile creed of barbarism was driven back and crushed out of existence for al] time. He believed that the force underlying the democracies would not fail: even now there was the light of victory to be seen glowing faintly on the horizon. Mr. Coward was earlier tendered a civic reception by the Mayor, Sir Ernest Davis, and the Auckland City Council. In addition to the welcome extended by Sir Ernest, the president of the Auckland Drama Council, Mr. F. W. Page, and the chairman of the Auckland Amateur Operatic Society, Mr. H. Edwards, expressed the goodwill of their societies. The concert chamber was crowded with an enthusiastic audience. "I want you to know," said Mr. Coward in his reply "that no matter how light and flippant it is my profession to be, now we are fighting for the freedom of civilisation the desire to make some contribution toward victory is stronger than any I have ever known. My knowledge of international affairs is scant and I do not know much of political whys and wherefores, but one thing I do know from my experience, my mind and my hearty and that is the spirit of the ordinary people of England. "Several years ago, in 'Cavalcade,' I wrote: 'Let's drink to the hope that some day this country of ours that we love so much will find dignity and greatness and peace again,' " continued Mr. Coward. In the last few months, he added, the first two-thirds of this had been magnificently brought about, although the peace everyonfe longed for was still shrouded in the future.

Mr. Coward will entertain the officers and men of the Hobsottville and Whenuapai air stations at Hobsonville to-night, and will appear in the Town Hall to-morrow night in aid of the patriotic funds.