ANOTHER BUSY DAY

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 87, Issue 208, 3 September 1943, Page 5

ANOTHER BUSY DAY

MRS. ELEANOR ROOSEVELT AT AUCKLAND (P.A.) Auckland, Sept. 2. Yet another crowded day of hospital tours and receptions was spent cheerfully and tirelessly to-day by Mrs. Eleanor Roosevelt. In four hos'/’.als she spoke collectively to thousands of Americans and faew Zealanders. She greeted and chatted with hundreds of individual servicemen and civilians. She inspected the meat canning department of a freezing works. She visited the Devonport naval base, called at a women’s services club, attended dinner as the guest of American Army officers, and concluded her day by addressing a great gathering of Auckland women. “I never imagined that things had gone so far,” said Mrs. Roosevelt in commenting upon the construction of American hospitals and other buildings in New Zealand during a visit to a partly-finished naval hospital. “The civilians arc doing a wonderful job of work.” She also praised the work of the medical corps for their care of sick and injured men. “This is a lovely place,” she commented on her arrival at a huge army hospital which has been built in a city park. Two hours were spent by Mrs. Roosevelt in a seemingly endless journey from ward to ward and from bed to bed. After lunching in the patients’ mess Mrs. Roosevelt went on to the naval receiving barracks in another park. The most colourful event in the day's programme was Mrs. Roosevelt’s drive through the Auckland hospital grounds ard her visit to New Zealand patients in the Domain auxiliary hospital. Intense interest in the wofk of women and girls employed in canning meat for American and New Zealand forces at the Westfield freezing works was shown by Mrs. Roosevelt. Later Mrs. Roosevelt i visited the Devonport naval base and inspected parades of Wrens and civilian women personnel.