MR NIXON’S LATE ARRIVAL

Press, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 27169, 13 October 1953, Page 8

MR NIXON’S LATE ARRIVAL

PLANE DELAYED AT CANTON FAULTY PLUG IN ENGINE (New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, October 12. A faulty plug in one of the engines of the United States Air Force Constellation carrying the Vice-President of the United States (Mr Richard Nixon) and his official party to New Zealand delaved the aircraft at Canton Island. The fault was discovered when the pilot was revving the engines before the take-off at Canton, and the Constellation was nearly two hours late in arriving at Ohakea today. “It's always nice to find out these things before you leave the ground.’ said Mr Nixon with a broad smile, when he met the press in the early afternoon at Government House directly after arriving at Wellington by car from Ohakea. Mr Nixon, who looks older than his photographs suggest, talked easily and informally. He said he was very pleased that New Zealand had been included in his tour. He served in the Solomons during the war, and met many New Zealanders there. Due for extended leave on one occasion, he had intended to visit this country, but before he was able to complete arrangements received notice of his transfer on discharge to the United States. He had heard a great deal about New Zealand from the Prime Minister (Mr Holland), whom he had met on two occasions in the United States, and from Mr T. C. Webb when he had represented the Dominion at the United Nations. “Admiral Radford was also a vigorous protagonist of the beauties of New Zealand,” said Mr Nixon. _

Mr Nixon said that he was visiting New Zealand as the representative of President Eisenhower. He will formally present a message of goodwill to the Prime Minister from the President, and through him to the people of New Zealand, and will also present “a token of esteem” to the Governor-General (Sir Willoughby Norrie). He and Mrs Nixon are guests of the GovernorGeneral and Lady Norrie during their stay in Wellington.

Wellington Engagements This afternoon Mr Nixon paid formal calls on the Prime Minister and the Cabinet, and also met the Leader of the Opposition (Mr Nash). Later he laid a wreath at the Cenotaph. Also participating in the ceremony were the president of the Returned Services’ Association (Sir Howard Kippenberger) and the president of Wellington branch of the association (Mr H. A. C. Davy). The Vice-President and his party of 11, which includes three American journalists representing the United Press, the Associated Press, and the International News Service, were met by the Prime Minister and the American Ambassador (Mr R. M. Scotten) at Ohakea. A guard of honour was provided by the Royal New Zealand Air Force.

There will be a State luncheon tomorrow at Parliament Buildings in honour of Mr Nixon, and afterwards he will visit the House of Representatives when it is in session. Mrs Nixon will attend a luncheon tomorrow given by Mrs Holland, and later, accompanied by Mrs Holland and Mrs W. A. Bodkin, wife of the Minister of Internal Affairs, who is also Dominion president of the Plunket Society, will visit the Karitane Hospital, Melrose. Mr Nixon and his party will leave Wellington by air on Wednesday for Hamilton. They will leave New Zealand for Sydney on Thurs|day.