FROM THE MOTHERLAND

Wairarapa Daily Times, 16 December 1927, Page 5

FROM THE MOTHERLAND

RIGHT HON. L. S. AMERY. SHORT VISIT TO MASTERTON. The Eight Hon. L. S. Amerv (Secretary of State for the Dominions) and Mrs Amerv, who are just concluding their trip to New Zealand, arrived in Masterton this morning and were met at the station by the Mayor and Mayoress (Mr and Mrs T. Jordan) and Mr G. B, Sykes, M.P. The party then motored to the Municipal Buildings, where n civic reception was accorded the distinguished visitors. Upon arrival at the Municipal Hall, where there was a large assemblage of the public, the Eight Hon. Mr Amcry and Mrs Aniery were introduced to members of local bodies and their

wives. Mr T. Jordan, in introducing Mr Amerv, said they were pleased to welcome one of His Majesty’s principal Cabinet Ministers, he might say ‘‘the’’ principal Minister as he was Secretary of State for the Dominions. The visit served the purpose of interpreting the Old Land to the new. They also welcomed Mrs Amerv, who had singular claims upon them. .She had a singular claim through being the wife of Mr Amcry. (Laughter). They welcomed her also as the daughter of the sister Dominion of Canada, and also as the sister of a former Cabinet Minister in Britain. A few weeks spent in the Dominion, seeing things with Ms own eyes, was worth a lot of information received through other sources. He hoped that this visit was the first of a number of similar visits. Mr Jordan made reference to the importance of 'Singapore, and thanked Mr Amcry for what he had done in establishing this important base. The visit was all too short, but Mr Amcry was a much-travelled and observant man, and much good must result from the visit. (Loud applause). Mr G. E. Sykes, M.P., in an appropriate speech of welcome, said that Mr Amery must have been struck, as he listened to the various speeches from leading men throughout New Zealand, that above all New Zealand is loyal. On behalf of the district, he extended a hearty welcome to the Minister and [Mrs Amerv.

The Eight Hon. Mr Amcry said that New Zealand was British in every respect, even to the inconstancy of its weather. (Laughter). Wherever he and Mrs Amery had gone in New Zealand they had been made to feel quite at home. Travelling right round the world—thousands of miles in Africa, Australia, and Canada —they were never away from home. In the Empire as a whole we all had a wider home. (Applause). One of the first objects of his visit was to keep alive the personal touch between them, so that they could work in free mutual co-operation. 'He believed in Ministers from the Homeland coming out to get into touch with the people here—not only the Prime Ministers and Members of Parliament, but, as far as possible, with the people. According to the cables they may be led to believe that the British nation was going to pieces, that they were all living on charity, but. nothing could be farther from the true position than this. (Applause). There had never been a period in our history when greater reforms in education, insurance, pensions, house-building, eic., had been carried out. The peop’e had cheerfully shouldered their obligations to the men and the dependants of the men who had come forward in the time of war. (Applause). They were spending their money to help Empire trade. Everything they were doing indicated the actions of a young and vigorous nation, full of hope, and not the actions of a decadent Empire. (Applause), lie could return home and tell his people of the splendid spirit of the people in the Colonies. He could say that New Zealand was playing her part in the development and defence of the Empire. There were few parts of the Empire where there were such line opportunities for young people who wished to leave the Old Land to settle within the Empire. The speaker paid an emphatic compliment to the beauties of New Zealand from a tourist point of view. When he returned home he would toll them all, including Cabinet Ministers, that they could not do better than pay a visit to New Zealand. (Applause). Mr Amery thanked the people for their welcome, and concluded a most interesting address amidst loud applause. The gathering terminated with the singing of the National Anthem, and the visitors left by special train for Hawke’s Bay, where they will be the guests of Sir Andrew Bussell and Lady Bussell.