MR DOIDGE’S MISSION

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 70, Issue 71, 5 January 1950, Page 4

MR DOIDGE’S MISSION

EXPERT ADVISER STILL ILL (P.A.) AUCKLAND, Jan. 4. All three members of the first Ministerial party chosen to go overseas since the General Election have •been ill during the holidays. Not only the Minister of External Affairs (the Hon. F. W. Doidge), but also the Secretary of External Affairs (M. A. D. Mclntosh) and the Minister’s privatesecretary (Mr H. P. Jeffery) have had severe influenza. Mr Doidge and Mr Jeffery have both recovered sufficiently to be able to leave by air to-mor-row morning on the first stage of the journey to Colombo, where the Minister will represent New Zealand at the Conference of Commonwealth Ministers. However, Mr Mclntosh is still ill in Wellington and on the advice of adoctor will have to postpone his departure. He has tentatively booked to leave in a few days and it is hoped that he will reach Colombo soon enough to serve as Mr Doidge's prmciprMessrs Doidge and Jeffery will leave for Sydney by flying-boat to-morrow. They will fly from Sydney by British Overseas Airways as far as Singapore, where "the Minister' has been invited to be a guest at Government House. From Singapore they will fly direct to Colombo, which they will reach on Sunday. COURTESY CALL AT JAKARTA CHRISTCHURCH, This Day. “On his return from the Commonwealth Ministers’ conference at Colombo, Mr Doidge will break his journey at Jakarta to pay the respects of the Prime Minister and the Government of Now Zealand to the President of the new. Indonesian Republic (Dr. Achmed Soekarno),’’ announced the Prime Minister (the Hon. S. G. Holland) last evening. Mi- Holland also announced that during the absence/of Mr Doidge from New Zealand his portfolio of foreign affairs would be taken over by Mr T. Clifton Webb, and broadcasting by Mr W. J- Broadfoot.