DUTCH VISITORS

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLIX, Issue 21968, 21 May 1941, Page 6

DUTCH VISITORS

Entertained At State Luncheon Ready To Share Burdens In Pacific (P.A.) WELLINGTON, May 20. New Zealand’s appreciation of the action of the Netherlands Government in placing the motorship Oranje at the disposal of the New Zealand and Australian Governments for use as a hospital ship was expressed by the Hon. W. Nash at a luncheon given by the Government in honour of the Netherlands Ministers visiting the Dominion. It was revealed by Mr Nash that the staffing of the hospital ship had been undertaken by the Netherlands authorities, and that all the New Zealand and Australian Governments would have on the ship would be liaison officers. A cordial welcome was extended by Mr Nash to the visiting Ministers and members of their staff—Count Van Rechteren, Counsellor to the Dutch Legation in Washington, Mr W. Peekema, head of the legal division of the Dutch Colonial Office, and Dr. F. L. Rutgers, deputy-chief of the economic division of the Colonial Office. Mr Nash said they had met to do honour to the representatives of a great country—Holland. He recalled that he had visited The Hague in 1937, and there met Mr Welter. “In all fields which are International. Holland has made contributions,” said Mr Nash. “The parliamentary system of Holland has a history. It is one of the most stable monarchies in the world, comparing in stability with England. The Dutch people are essentially democratic. In this war, in this struggle for values that the Netherland people no less than the British people hold dear, the democratic attitude of the people of Holland is going to be one of the great factors in winning the war, for wars are not only won with men and machines, raw materials and navies, they are won by attitudes of mind, by human qualities, and it is in these human qualities that the Dutch people excel And it is here when the time comes that the world will know that the Dutch people again by their Inherent qualities have helped to throw off the foreign oppressor.” Replying on behalf of Mr Welter and himself, Mr Van Kieffens expressed appreciation of the cordial welcome they had received in New Zealand. It was Zeeland in Holland that gave its name to this part of the world. IL New Zealanders could visit that province of Holland they would find a race of hardy seafarers and a great many of those qualities common to the people of this country. Their alliance with the British people did not rest on a written document nor was it bom of the conference table, but it was based on spiritual needs and for upholding good faith and those things common to the peoples of the two countries. They were in New Zealand to bring a message of good will from their countrymen. “We also have come here to tell you that we are ready to share along with you any burden that may fall to our common lot to carry in the south-western Pacific." said Mr Van Kieffens. Mr Van Kieffens mentioned that he had met Mr Fraser at Sourabaya and they all rejoiced that when Mr Fraser’s aeroplane had been shot at by Raschid All his bullets had missed, and that Mr Fraser had escaped unhurt. He had complimented Mr Fraser on the magnificent war effort of this country and said to him that it would be difficult to find a country that in proportion to its size was doing more to bring the war to a successful conclusion as it would assuredly come to. Mr Van Kieffens and Mr Welter will leave Wellington to-morrow to see some of the scenic beauties of the North Island.