PRESS MISSION

New Zealand Herald, Volume 80, Issue 24747, 22 November 1943, Page 4

PRESS MISSION

BRITISH PROPRIETORS ARRIVAL IN AUCKLAND MODE KNOWLEDGE WANTED Three leading British newspaper proprietors arrived on Saturday from Sydney by Tasman Empire Airways flying-boat. They were Sir Walter Layton, chairman of the News Chronicle, Limited, and the Star Newspaper Company, Limited, until recently Chief Adviser on Programmes and Planning for the Ministry of Supply, and formerly editor of the Economist; Sir Neville Pearson, chairman of the world-famous publishing house of C. Arthur Pearson, Limited, and vicechairman of the equally well known George Newnes, Limited; and Mr. Samuel Storey, Conservative member of Parliament for Sunderland, Parliamentary Secretary, Ministry of Health, and chairman of Portsmouth and Sunderland Newspapers, Limited. A fourth member of the party as it loft Britain, Mr. A. W. Wood, of the Daily Express, London, remain,ed in Australia with the object 'of visiting New Guinea. Mr. Wood is an Australian by birth and the son of a late professor of history at the University of Sydney. He served in the British Army earlier in the war until he was taken from the ranks for special work attached to Combined Headquarters in the Middle East. Interest in Dominion The group was invited to New Zealand by fhe Government, and, said Sir Walter Layton, gladly took advantage of the offer so that its members could round off their impressions of a part of the world which was attracting everincreasing attention. Sir Waller said there was not sufficient first-hand knowledge of New Zealand and Australia among members of the British press, and ideas about the two countries which were possessed by the average man in the street were vague. It was desirable, particularly for the sake of sound planning for the post-war world, that there should bo a first-hand acquaintance with the special problems and ways of thought of various parts of the world. As the eyes of the British people were turning more and more to the Pacific and Far East, it was well to take advantage of the opportunity for an interchange of information, opinions and impressions that such a visit contained. Members of the partv would use such influence as they had to see on their return to Great Britain that their visit was turned to useful ends. They all _ regretted that their New Zealand visit could not he longer than the week provided, Sir Walter continued. Wartime transportation difficulties had already caused delays, so that the party was behind with its programme. However, the members hoped to learn as much of New Zealand as they could. Welcome on Arrival The visitors were met on arrival by the Minister of Labour, the Hon. P. C. Webb, who welcomed them on behalf of tho Government,, and bv the Mavor of Auckland, .Air. J. A. C. Allum. They were taken to the Station Hotel, where at night they attended a reception "' vp "! n t!u ' ir Honour by the directors of Wilson and Horton, Limited,'and New Zealand Newspapers. Limited. 1 hey were welcomed by Mr. F. A. Clarke, editor of the Auckland Star, and by Mr. L. Iy. Munro, editor of the New Zealand Heralj>. A visit to Rotorua was made yesterday, and to-day the group will go to Janpo. A fishing expedition is being arranged for Sir Neville Pearson, who began to inquire about New Zeal land's trout as soon as he arrived, and to-night the visitors are to join the Wellington express at National Park. They will spend to-morrow in Wellington, and fly Christehurch on Wednesday. Sir Walter Layton will continue to Dunedin for a brief visit, and Sir Neville Pearson and Mr. Storey will he flown over the Franz Josef Glacier, fhe visitors will return fo Wellington at the end of the week, and come back to Auckland on Saturday.

HEAVY LOSS OF EGGS

CRATES FALL FROM TRUCK WELLINGTON STREET SCENE (0.C.) WELLINGTON, Sunday itour traffic inspectors, one military policeman, three workers with good, still brooms and a fire hydrant were in action at a street intersection in Wellington when an accident occurred. The casualties were several thousand eg< r s. he financial loss involved is estimated at between £3O and £4O.

J iled high with crates of eggs, a motor-truck was swinging round the corner when some 70 crates containing more than 25,000 eggs parted company lrom the remainder and crashed on to the roadway, thousands of scrambled eggs which had come all the way from Canterbury slid round in a sticky mess. Hundreds of people were soon on the sccnie, fascinated by the sight, and offering advice. All of them had at one tune or other dropped one or two eggs in handling them, but never had thev seen such execution done en masse. There was almost a traffic jam. However. the spectators soon recovered from their astonishment. To Quote the words of an official, "Dozens of eggs were taken in the first few minutes." Well-dressed women and office girls, lie said, seemed to assume that once the eggs had reached the roadway they became public property, and they started to pilfer sound ones which survived among the wreckage. He had to restrain them and in one case threaten to rail the police. Broken crates, cardhoard fillings and eggs were swept unceremoniously into the gutter, down which a yellow rivulet ran. The smash left the roadway very slippery, and finally a fire hydrant was used to clean up the last vestiges of the accident. LABOURER'S DEATH The body of Mr. Arthur Alfred Newsoni, aged 58, labourer, married, was found hanging from a rafter in a newlybuilt shed near his home at .35 Bracken Avenue, Takapnna, yesterday morning. Mr. Newsom was last seen when he went out of his house at fi.flO yesterday morning. An inquest will he opened ibis morning.