SOVIET MINISTER CAREFUL WITH WORDS

Chronicle (Levin), 15 August 1947, Page 5

SOVIET MINISTER CAREFUL WITH WORDS

Press Association)

(Per

WELLINGTON, August 14. It is unlikely that Mr. Ivan Ziabkin, the flrst Soviet Minister to New Zealand, who leaves with his wife and son by the Rangitihi this evening on his return home, will over be reprimandei by the Soviet authorities for indiscree utterances. Courteous and correct, he wasted no words when intervieAved today. . Asked if he had a farewell message for New Zealanders he drew on his cigar and considered the point from all angles. "You can convey the sincere thanlcs of my wife, my son and myself for your very kindly hospitality," he said. Had he any outstanding impressions of New Zealand? — Ye.4. He thought all the towns were hiliy' except Palmerston North and Invercargill. Auckland re minded him of Moscow. That too wa? hilly. Did he consider the establishment oi fuller diplomatic relations betweeu Russia and New Zealand had been vvorthwhile? — That was a matter for the Government, he said. Did our standard of living compare favourably with that of other coun tries? — Since he had been only in South Africa, he could not say. "1 don't know, " replied Mr. Ziabkin when asked if he would make a per sonal report on Ne"w Zealand to Mr Stalin. He said he was impressed with the way New Zealand dealt with th( Alaori people.