VISIT TO HOLLAND

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23224, 23 June 1937, Page 11

VISIT TO HOLLAND

PAID BY NEW ' ZEALANDERS OXFORD GROUP MEETING (From Our Own Correspondent) (By Air Mail) LONDON, May 19. A number of New Zeaianders were among a contingent of 800, drawn from all carts of the British Empire, which was present at a national demonstration of the Oxford Group in Utrecht, Holland. Audiences of more than 100,000 people attended. They crowded the old-world market place, and the colourful costumes of Friesian farmers mingled with Scotch tartans and Oriental robes.

The presence of a large contingent from Norway, Denmark, Sweden, Finland and Belgium indicated the great advances made by the Oxford Group in Scandinavia. At the meeting a message was read from the Right Hon. J. L. Mowincke, former Prime Minister and leader of the Liberal Party of Norway, permanent Norwegian delegate to the League of Nations, and the originator of the Oslo Pact between Scandinavian countries, the Netherlands,. Belgium and Luxemburg. Among the speakers were Lord Addington, Messieur Pagijn (Dutch Ambassador to Brussels), three British generals, nine girls from the Yorkshire mills, a dirt track rider, and a Finnish opera singer. Scottish pipers were enthusiastically welcomed by the Dutch, and proved so popular that they were nicknamed " The Pied Pipers of Utrecht."

Flags of the 30 nations represented decorated the market place,

and the Oxford Group poster, depicting the launching of a liner under the title "A New Netherlands is Launched," was a familiar feature of every railway station in Holland.