SAILED FOR OTTAWA

Pahiatua Herald, Volume XL, Issue 12084, 30 June 1932, Page 2

SAILED FOR OTTAWA

NEW ZEALAND DELEGATION’S

SEND-OFF. Electric Telegraph—Press Association AUCKLAND, J une 28. Flying from her foie masthead a streamer inscribed with the destination of the delegations, the Aorangi left Princes Wharf this morning for Vancouver with the New Zealand and Australian representatives to the Ottawa Economic Conference on board. The vessel cleared the wharf strictly to schedule, and no untoward incident marked her departure, which differed in no material respect from the departure of any other passenger liner bound for an oveisea port. The only noticeable feature was the presence in Quay Street of a fairly large body of sightseers, which from the promenade rails watched the Aorangi slip out from her berth into the stream. Admission to the wharf and boatside was by special ticket, and the crowd which assembled there was of the usual proportions. There was no ostentation about the arrival of the New Zealand delegates. The Hon. W. Downie Stewart went aboard last night, and spent the early morning receiving callers on the vessel. The Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates, accompanied by Mrs Coates, arrived by motor-car at 10.30, half an hour before the departure time, and went quietly on board. The leader of the New Zealand delegation had had an exceptionally busy morning with interviews at the Grand motel, and on the Aorangi he was receiving visitors until within five minutes of the vessel’s departure. Hundreds of telegrams wishing the party good luck and God-speed were received in the course of the morning, the final message being cleared two minutes before the berth was cleared. Other members of the delegation arrived singly, and took up positions at intervals on the upper deck. The last of the party on board was Dr. R. M. Campbell, Mr Coates’s private secretary, who from the vessel’s side hurled a final sentence into an economic discussion in which he had been engaged with Dr. H. Belshaw. Mr A. D. Park, secretary to the Treasury, spent his last few minutes in Auckland taking photographs of friends and relatives on the wharf below. Five minutes before the Aorangi moved off Mr and Mrs Coates appeared on the upper deck, Mrs Coates carrying a beautiful bouquet, waving to a group of friends" and supporters. Mr Coates fired a streamer and deftly caught the return shot from below. Soon lie had a collection, and these he banded to Mis Coates.

There was much waving of hands and raising of hats, and just as the vessel moved away a voice from tlie crowd called for cheers for the delegates. There was a hearty response.