Mr Gandar gets London post

Press, 18 April 1979, Page 3

Mr Gandar gets London post

PA Wellington The appointment of Mr L. W. Gandar as High Commissioner in London has been announced by the Prime Minister (Mr Muldoon). Mr Gandar. the former Minister of Education who lost the Rangitikei seat in; the last election, succeeds! Sir Douglas Carter, who' will complete his term of> office about th middle oft this year. ! Born in Wellington, Mil Gandar was educated at Wellington College and Victoria University, where he graduated B.Sc In 1940 he was attached to the Royal Air f orce as a radar officer and he commanded radar stations in Britain, North Africa, and the Persian Gulf. He was commanding! officer of 61 Squadron and later 60 Squadron R.N.Z.A.F. on his return to New Zealand in 1944. Mr Gandar entered Parliament in 1966 as member for Manawatu. He was appointed to the Cabinet in 1972 as Minister of Science, Electricity, Mines, and Energy Resources, subsequently becoming Minister of Education. Mr Gandar was re-elected member for Ruahine in 1975, but he lost the Rangitikei seat to the Social Credit leader, Mr B. J. Beetham, at the last election.

He was chancellor of Massey University for six years and is a fellow of the Institute of Agricultural Science and an associate member of the New Zealand Wool Association. Mr Muldoon said the London post had always been ’very important for New Zealand, — “and never more so jthan now. ; “While Britain is still our j principal trading partner, land the links between us of jail kinds remain close and strong, the over-all relationship, like every relationship, benefits from close and continued attention,” he said. “This year the European Community, of which Britain is a member, is at the point of considering a number of issues of great significance to our agricultural export trade, and indeed for the future course of New Zealand’s economic development. “The Government has great confidence, which I believe will be widely shared throughout the community, in the ability of Mr Gandar ■ to discharge his responsibilities as New Zealand’s representative in London. “He will bring to the task Parliamentary and Ministerial experience in farming, and a close interest and considerable knowledge of many other fields of activity, parcularly in scientific research and in education.”