They Flew 1,000 Miles To Make

It A Warm Welcome

From a Lautoka Correspondent When businessmen in Lautoka, Fiji, got the go-ahead to form their own Rotary Club recently—fellow Rotarians in New Zealand decided to give them some moral support, char tered an aircraft, and flew a thousand miles north to welcome their colleagues to the fold.

IJHFTY New Zealanders made the flight, led by Rotary District Governor John Ledgerwood, whose district Fiji is in.

Under the wing of the locals, the visitors missed little of interest in the town, combined a well-timed sense of humour with dignity dur ing the three-day charter-presenta tion session—and took home with them to NZ most of Lautoka’s golf balls.

Tight import restrictions make these a hard-to-get item in NZ.

A trip made by the New Zea landers to nearby Kandavu Lailai Island helped dispel some of the annoyance the locals felt earlier this year when “Ava Ava Island”, on the other side of Lautoka, was renamed and presented as first prize in an American jingle contest.

By comparison with the mangrove encircled, insect-ridden “Ava Ava”, Kandavu Lailai is a charming, un spoiled spot, and the Rotarians threw age—and girth—to the south east trades.

A cocktail party and reception under coloured lights at the home of the first president of the new Lautoka club, Mr. H. G. R. McAlpine, with an Islands orchestra, preceded the charter ceremony at the hotel.

The guests remembered they were in the tropics—and dressed in telligently for the gala occasion with dark trousers, black tie, white shirt, purple cummerbund —and no coat.

And an Islands’ meal that in cluded tropical cocktail and fish in coconut milk, helped them to burp delicately behind their serviettes.

TOP: Fifty businessmen from NZ Rotary clubs were among the guests at this open-air reception at the home of Mr. and Mrs. H. G.

R. McAlpine, of Lautoka. ABOVE: District Governor John Ledgerwood welcomes the new club.

Photos; Stinsons.