PACIFIC VISIT

New Zealand Herald, Volume 79, Issue 24294, 8 June 1942, Page 2

PACIFIC VISIT

THE GOVERNOR-GENERAL FIJI, TONGA, SAMOA INSPECTION OF FORCES The Governor-General, Sir Cyril Newall, attended by Major C. J. Hol-land-Martin, returned to New Zealand on Saturday from a visit to I'iji, Tonga, Western and American Samoa. His Excellency left Auckland by air on the morning of Monday, May 25, and arrived that afternoon at Suva, where he was the guest of the Governor, Sir Harry Luke. His Excellency spent Tuesday in a tour of inspection of the New Zealand troops and the Fiji Defence Force in the Suva area, and in the evening an official dinner was given in his honour at Government House. The Royal New Zealand Air Force personnel and other New Zealand military units in the same area were inspected on Wednesday morning, after which His Excellency was the guest at luncheon of Ratu Tawake on the historic island of Bau, where he was welcomed with the traditional Yangona ceremonial. In the afternoon he proceeded to another area, accompanied by Major-General O. H. Mead and Group-Captain G. N. Roberts, and later dined at a local defence services club. Naval Personnel Other New Zealand troops and the Fiji Defence Force in the area commanded by Brigadier L. Potter were inspected the following day, and other units of the R.N.Z.A.F. were visited. On Friday morning naval personnel under Commander T. S. Critehley, R.N.Z.N., at Suva, were inspected. In i his tour, His Excellency met the j majority of the New Zealanders stationed in the colony, and was verv much impressed by the efficiency and fitness of the men. Before leaving. I?lji he sent the following messages to the officers and all ranks of the three Services:— Navy.—"lt was a great pleasure to me to be able to see so many of you during my all-too-short visit to Suva. 1 congratulate you all on the work I which you are doing, and I assure you ! that New Zealand and the whole i British Empire are most grateful to you all and proud of the manner in which you are carrying out your duties. ' Tributes to Units Army.—"lt has been a great i pleasure to me to have been able to l visit Fiji and to see so many of the i New Zealand soldiers who are serving here. 1 want to congratulate you all on your bearing and your fitness, on the work which you have already done here, and on the resource with which all ranks have adapted themselves to local conditions. New Zealand and the whole British Empire are very proud of the vital part you are all playing in the defence of these islands, and in preparation for the advance to victory and the total defeat of our enemies. There can be no doubt that you will continue to keep fit and give of your best in tlie service of your King and country. Mv best wishes to von all." R.N.Z.A.F.—"It has been _ a great pleasure to me to see something of the Royal New Zealand Air Force during my all-too-short visit to Fiji. I congrfttultito you all on the work which yon are doing. New Zealand and the whole British Empire are grateful to you all for the vital part you are playing in their defence, and proud_ of the manner in which you are carrying out vour duties under difficult conditions. My best, wishes to you all." EXTENSIVE TOUR CEREMONIAL TRIBUTES PROMINENT PEOPLE MET In the course of his tour of the Pacific Islands, the Governor-General, Sir Cyril Newall, took part in the celebration of the King's Birthday at Apia, at which there was a large gath-' ering of Samoans and Europeans. Many other ceremonial tributes were paid by His Excellency in his tour. On arriving at Nukualofa, the capital of Tonga, on Friday, May 29, the Governor-General was met bv Mr. A. L. Armstrong, 0.8. E., the British Agent and Consul. After meeting the Premier, the Hon. Mr. Ata, and other Tongan Ministers, Sir Cyril called on Her Majesty Queen Salote. The following day he visited the Tonga Defence Force, which is under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel Macleod, of the New Zealand Military Forces. In the evening he laid a wreath on the tomb of Prince Tungi, the Queen's Consort and late Premier, who died last year. The Vice-Regal party reached Western Samoa on Saturday, May 30, and the Governor-General was received by Mr. A. C. Turn-bull, the acting-Ad-ministrator, and representative citizens, including the two Fautua, Tamasese and Malietoa. He inspected a guard of honour from the Boys' Brigade. Proceeding to Malua, Sir Cyril was welcomed by pastors from all over the Samoan group attending the Fone Tele of the London Missionary Society. A visit was paid to Malifa school, where a large number of children were assembled. After laying a wreath on the Apia war memorial, the Governor-General visited the Fone of Faipule (gathering of representatives) at Mulinu'u, where senior Samoan officials were also assembled, and was welcomed with a Kava ceremony. On the way to Vailima, the Administrator's residence, a wreath was laid on the monument to American and British sailors at Mulinu'u. An official dinner was given that evening. After attending Divine service on Sunday, May 31, and visiting the Methodist Mission at Piula, an inspection of Government plantations was made in the afternoon. The Samoan Local Defence Force provided a guard of honour when His Excellency arrived for the King's Birthday ceremony. At the conclusion of his address, speeches were also given by the Hon. 0. F. Nelson and Tamasese. The Vice-Regal party on June 1 left Western Samoa for Pago Pago, where Sir Cyril was the guest of the Military Governor, and the following day departed for Suva, crossing the date line on the way, and arriving there on Wednesday. His Excellency subsequently visited the Colonial War Memorial Hospital in Suva, and on Thursday evening he went to the New Zealand Club, which has been erected by the National Patriotic Fund Board for the use of members of the forces FAMILY'S BIG TASK (0.C.) HAMILTON, Sunday "You have taken on a big job," said Mr. A. Hay ward at a meeting of the Hamilton Manpower Committee, when a woman, the mother of 10 children, appealed for the exemption of a son from military service. The appellant said that last season her family had milked 250 cows, and that this season they had undertaken contracts for the milking of 335 cows. The appellant, two sons and a daughter were to milk 165 cows, and the father and the remainder of the family 170 cows. The appellant said she was confident the family could do the work. It was mentioned that although the family was a large one, only two sons were of military age. A sine die adjournment was granted. MUTTONBIRD CATCH The catch was only half that of last year, reported the muttonbirders who have returned to Invercargill from the islands. Some attributed this to the fact that in the verv bad weather experienced the wind blew away the down on the young birds emerging from the burrows at half season, thus enabling them to fly away almost immediately. Others says that vermin caused the deaths of many birds, some of which were found with insects under their wings. i