Parliamentarians To Visit Asia

Press, Volume CV, Issue 31003, 8 March 1966, Page 3

Parliamentarians To Visit Asia

(N.Z. Press Association) WELLINGTON, March 7. One, possibly two. New Zealand Cabinet Ministers and several members of Parliament will visit Southeast Asian Countries soon.

The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Overseas Trade (Mr Marshall) will lead the New Zealand delegation during the first week of the 22nd session of the Economic Commission for Asia and the Far East in New Delhi from March 22 to April 4. The Prime Minister (Mr Holyoake) said tonight that after Mr Marshall's return to New Zealand Mr G D. L White, Deputy Secretary of External Affairs, would lead the delegation. Mr Marshall was elected chairman at the 21st session in Wellington last year and will preside at this year’s session until a new chairman is elected. Mr Holyoake said that during the last year E.C.A.F.E. had scored a notable success in bringing the Asian Development Bank to fruition. The organisation of the bank would be one of the more important items to be discussed at New Delhi. Others would 1 be the establishment of an Asian industrial development j council and a review of pro- ; sress made in implementing the resolutions on Asian rejgional co-operation passed at 'Manila in 1963. Mr Holyoake said New Zealand attached great importance to the work of E.C.A.F.E in the trade and economic ' fields. May Inspect Troops The Minister of Defence (Mr Eyre) may visit Southeast Asia next month. Mr Holyoake said tonight that sending Mr Eyre to the area to inspect New Zealand troops was ‘‘under consideration.” Asked if the visit of Mr Eyre, who is also Minister in Charge of Tourism, would be related to Air New Zealand’s inaugural DCB flight to Singapore on April 6, Mr Holyoake said: “It would seem to be a sensible sort of arrangement.” He had no other comment to make. Vietnam Visit Mr Holyoake said details of the proposed visit to South Vietnam by a party of New Zealand Parliamentarians were still being worked out and no dates could be given.

The members would spend about two weeks in South Vietnam. They would not visit other countries in the area. Mr Holyoake said Government members of the party would be Mr D. Maclntyre (Hastings) and Mr L. F

Sloane (Hobson). It was hoped they would be joined in South Vietnam by Mr D. S. Thomson (Stratford), who is now in the United States. The Labour Party has not yet named its representatives in the group.

The leader of the Opposition (Mr Kirk) had asked Mr Holyoake to make the trip posible so members from both sides of the House could examine the situation in South Vietnam.