SIR HARRY LAUDER

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Volume 58, Issue 85, 13 May 1929, Page 9

SIR HARRY LAUDER

PRAISE FOR NEW ZEALAND. A HEALTH-GI YIN G COUNTRY . "I would like to tell you," said Sir Harry Lauder at this afternoon's luncheon of tho Napier Rotary Club, "that you Ngav Zealanders and those ) oi you avIio have cliosen Neiv Zealand ; as your place of residence, sliould he proud of your eountry. It is a healtligiving eountry. "I Avas an old man and fceling very old Avhen I lelt England, and look at me to-day, 22 next year. (Laughter.) "Tlie air is marvellous, tho scenery wondcrful ancl the fishing unequalled. I have fi-lied in all the main streams ir England and Wales, hut I have Act to find a place that touches Ncaa' Zealand for tho sport effered or the s!zo oi" the spccimens obtained. Really. Npav Zealand has the most Avonderful fishing in the Avorld. "So much so that I consider tliat j il is Avel! Avortli tlie fare (laughter) to eome and fish in Noav Zealand. j "Also. travelling from place to place ) in New Zealand, f have uiet some of ihe finest peojile one eould avi'sIi to enccunter anywlierc, and I have cpiite made up my mimi that- if I ever haA-e another holiday. I shall certainly come to Npav Zealand for it." (Clieers.) Sir Harry Laudcr's presence at the luncheon presided over b\" Rotarian Presidont T. TI. Ringland, proved a pleasant surprise io many, who Avere thovoughly deliglited with Sir Harry's address. TIIE STRAIGHT FURROW. In contiiiuing his address, Sir Harry said that tlic onlv avuv to obtain real success in anytliing in lifo avas by Avholeliearted euthusiasm. llo recalled an incident in Scotland Avhcro a ])Ionghman tried from the time hc was 17 until hc reached 70 years of age to win the gold medal for ploughing. It was not until lie avas 70 years of age tliat he avas rewarded for his labours, but tlic final reAvard seemed to makc up for all tho time and toil spent in endeavour. It avas not only that liis furroAvs Avere tlie straightest, continued Sir Harry. hut that every detail had been attended to and was pei-fect. Thus in the Avalks of life every man eould gain a gold medal providing tlnu hc avus Ixnind np in euthusiasm for liis Avork and was perfect in detail. The only way to be cntirely suceessful avus to be completely enthusiastic. "TAventy-six years ago 1 Avas playing on five playing lialls a night, and I assure you tliat it took all the money tliat I *got to keep me. It xvas then tliat I signed a ten-year contract Avith some direetors, avIio Avere men of vision in those days. HoAvever, I stuclt to the straiglit furroAV and did not break mv contract, with the result that I can go anyAvhere to-day and be Avc'lcomed." Contiuuing, Sir Harry recounted some exporiences of his travels and also conunented 011 the advent of the "tnlkie." Eiglitcen years ago lie invented a kind of talkie hut unfortunately tlie synclironisation Avas not perfect ancl it was a failure. HoAvever, it was tlie forcrunncr of the more suceessful instruments aa*1hcIi Avere being nsed to-day. Sir Harry also said tliat when reeording gramoplione records be found that tho a*oice sounded far clearer avIipii a Avet toAA'el was placed over tlic microplione. Sir Harry aUo recounted ReA-eral oceasions 011 Avliicb lie had coiuposed songs, stating tliat one verse of his song "Cronies" was composed 011 the Avay to Noav Zealand while tlie other t\a'o aa*ere thought "but in tlie Dominion, one at Taupo and tlie other in the Bay of Tslands. Sir Harry also sang the song, the Rntarians joining in tlie chorus. At tlie condusion, Sir Harry was aoeorded a liearty \Tote of thanks and tliree liearty clieers for his address.