PLANS OF PRIME MINISTER

Press, Volume XCI, Issue 27586, 17 February 1955, Page 15

PLANS OF PRIME MINISTER

Mr Holland To Fly To Singapore MEETING WITH MR MACDONALD (N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) LONDON, February 15. The Prime Minister of New Zealand (Mr Holland) will leave London on February 23 to fly direct to Singapore to meet the Minister of Defence (Mr T. L. Macdonald), who will have attended the Bangkok conference. Together they will inspect the accommodation to be provided for the No. 14 Royal New Zealand Air Force squadron after its transfer from Cyprus, and also make a tour of military establishments in Malaya. They will then return to New Zealand, staying two days in Sydnev. They expect to reach Wellington on March 7 or 8.

During the Prime Ministers’ conference I had discussions with British Ministers on affairs in the Pacific,” said Mr Holland. ‘‘We reassessed the strategy of Pacific defence, which necessitated further talks at high level on the nature of New Zealand’s participation. “I had talks with the British service Ministers and their chiefs of staff. The whole subject has been the most important part of my work in London. The discussions will constitute the basis of my report to the Government and to Parliament on my return. “Throughout my discussions I have been accompanied by Major-General W. G. Gentry, chairman of the New Zealand Chiefs of Staffs Committee, as adviser. We have inspected various military installations in England and examined the question of supplies for cur services and their training. “I spent a full day flying from a naval station in the south of England to gain an insight into research which will be of value to me in obtaining a better assessment of similar-type work being done in New Zealand. Chief of Naval Staff _ X also talked with Commodore J. E». H. Mcßeath, who will shortly take °Y e £ the , P° sition of Chief of Naval Staff in New Zealand as rear-admiral ‘‘l have discussed with Sir George Nelson, of the English Electric Company, acceleration of the delivery of a large number of diesel locomotives we have ordered, and, with directors of New Zealand shipping lines, the current problems of shipping this W€ek 1 will‘meet Major Lloyd George, the Home Secretary, to talk about police affairs, and I expect to spend a morning at Scotland Vu to obtain information ?iL? eneflt OU F own Police service that may be valuable for increasing the efficiency of the methods of recruiting, conditions of service and administration. ’

We may also discuss the exchange or officers in various branches. Rapid strides are being made in technical methods of crime detection, and I hone we shall be able to improve the efficiency of our force by adopting any systems m Britain that may suit re<lu2ren’?Pft in New Zealand,” he said rhe Prime Minister also said he is in constant communication with Sir the United Nations Security Council on the Formosan situls ™ ain taing contact with Sir Anthony Eden.