A DIGGER AT HOME

Patea Mail, Volume XLIII, 11 August 1919, Page 3

A DIGGER AT HOME

AN INTERESTING INTERVIEW

A representative of the "Press" had the privilege of an interview with a "Digger" who had recently returned from the Homeland after "doing his bit" in the cause of Freedom, Justice and Humanity. In the course of the interview sonic interesting particulars were gleaned of the impressions of the New Zealand boys at Home. Questioned as to what had impressed him most with regard to Britain the "Digger" replied without hesitation: "The size of London." Then he continued, "I cannot tell you exactly what I felt like when I realised the immensity of it all. Mile after mile of houses, houses, houses, as far as the eye could sec. Looking from the top of Nelson's monument it looked as if the whole of England was one mass of houses and streets. And the London policemen, they were wonderful. I sttfbi open-mouthed at one the firs! time I saw him regulating the traffic. Lt was just near the Mansion House, and he stood fairly in the centre of the roadway and I thought he was going to bo knocked over every minute, but he just held up one hand and all the traffic stopped. Down went his hand like a semaphore and it all went on again, ft was wonderful. 'Then again, I realised what the words 'Ask a* policeman' meant. They seemed to know everything, and what was more, they had the answer ready almost before the question was out of your mouth. Yes, t take my hat off to the Metropolitan police ovorytime."

Asked if he saw the Tower of London, our friend replied that he had, but he was only sorry that ho had but one day to spare to look over it. "I could easily have spent a week there," he declared.

"What about the hospitality of the British people," was the next question. "This was truly great, was the reply, "and," he continued, "the further north we went the more generous it appeared to be. Let me tell you about our trip north. My mate and 1 received an invitation to spend our leave with a family in Scotland. When wc ncarcd our destination we began to get a bit nervous and shy, and so we decided that wo would tell them we had lo go back the first tiling the next day. We actually looked up the time-table and found the time the first train left to back up our story. But when we reached the house —a magnificent place —wc were received with open arms, just as if we were boys of the family home from the front. Our hostess took us up and showed us our bedroom. It was the depth of winter and there was a roaring fire in the grate and two cosy armchairs drawn up before it. On the bed were pyjamas neatly laid out for us and in the bed hot water bottles ! My mate and I sat by "the fire for some time saying nothing. I guess our hearts were too full for words. Finally I looked at him and said, 'Jim what do you say ? Shall wc telL them we have to clear in the morning ?' Jim's reply was immediate and emphatic : 'Not on your life. They have made us happy and wc will make them happy by staying.' And we did, and had the time of our lives."

"An incident occurred the following morning that I shall never forget in a hurry," the "Digger" went on to say. "My mate and I were walking on the beach and met a very fine looking old gentleman who was watching some warships in the bay. As he seemed to know something about them by the interest he was taking in them, we approached him and asked him to toll us what they were. He looked at us for a moment and then entered into a lengthy description of each. It was more than interesting to us. When he had finished describing the boats he said to us, 'And you are New Zcalanders, arc you ?' We said wc wore. Ho then shook each of us warmly by the hand and said, 'lt is the i>roudcst day of my life, boys, to meet you. I cannot express .to you in words what I feel. To think that you have of your own free will travelled over Ki,ooo miles to come to the help of the Motherland. It is* magnificent, simply magnificent.' He put his hand on my shoulder and said, 'How can any nation expect to conquer Britain when she has such sons as you. God bless you boys.' Ho trncd his head away, and after a moment he said, 'By the way, I am not living here, I live in London. If you have an evening to spare come anil sec inc.' He handed us his card and walked away. To our surprise we found wc had been talking to one of Britain's most famous admirals, one whose name was on everybody's lips a few years ago, before the present war." "I might mention that wo went along and spent an evening with him and wc had a glorious time. It was a treat to hear from hi in at first hand tales of places and battles wc had often' read about. When wc left him lie tilled otir pockets with cigars and told us to come and see him again if ever wc had time to spare. He was truly a 'Grand Old Man'."

Speaking of the Scotch, our friend said he could not say enough for them. "They made us feel at home all the the time and fairly spoilt us." "Did you taste the Scottish haddock," we asked. "Yes," was the reply, "and the Scottish salmon, 100. Both were delicious and before any fish ivo had ever tasted. I'll tell you a rather funny incident about the salmon. My male and I had never tasted fresh salmon before and we had two large helpings at breakfast, and we enjoyed it. That evening we happened to see in the paper the price at which salmon was selling and we calculate that we had eaten that morning at least nine shillings' worth each for breakfast!" Our friend was loud in his praises of the English country lanes, especially in spring-time. He declared that the hedgerows covered with primroses, violets and bluebells, were something to bo remembered for the rest of one's life. "We also saw several of the English country homes, and they wero rnugni-

fieent," lie went on to say. "Warwick Castle, I liked the best, but what .".truck mo as being funny was the fact that a man like the Earl of Warwick, who could afford to keep up such a gorgeous place, should demand a shilling from us 'Diggers' before he would allow us to look over his show. Miniate was rude enough to ask the flunkey who showed us round, what he did with the 'bobs'. The guide declared he did not know." "I saw the New Zealand v. Motherland football match at Inverleitli," our "Digger" friend continued, "and it was immense. New Zealand, I consider, was lucky to win on the day's play. 'The British backs were far superior to the New Zealanders, both with regard to passing, kicking, and dodging. It was the New Zealand forwards who won the match. 'They were exceptionally fast and always on the ball. J. O'Brien, of Waverloy, was the New Zealand full-back and played a great game, but the English full-back I was easily the better man of the two that day. Britain played with the most combination, and it was the splendid defence of the New Zealanders that kept Britain from scoring more than once. The British team were all officers but one, colonels, majors, lieutenants and what not. The exception was a sergeant-major, who was a hefty chap. The New Zealand team, on the other hand, was mostly 'Diggers'. The reason why Britain's team was composed of officers was not duo to classdistinction as some might imagine, but to the fact that little or no Rugby is played in England except at the 'Varsities. It is nearly all Soccer. 1 saw one or two Soccer games and was astonished at the clever work with head and feet by the players. It was really wonderful how they manipulated the ball. At one match, by (lie way, there were (>O,OOO spectators —a nice little crowd. I could tell you a lot more but I think I have sa.id enough. One thing I would like to say in conclusion, I am delighted with my trip. In spite of the occasional hardships and inconveniences, I would not have missed it for worlds. The experience was invaluable and the knowledge that one was able to do one's little bit towards preventing the bully of Germany from ruling the world will take the sting out of many a pain in the years to come. And what's more, I think I am safe in saying that should another war occur each and everyone of the old 'Diggers' will be found ready to carry on again. Yes, 'Now Zealand will be there'."