MR HOLLAND IN CANADA

Press, Volume XCIII, Issue 27989, 8 June 1956, Page 11

MR HOLLAND IN CANADA

Arrival For TwoWeek Visit

(Rec. 10.30 p.m.) VANCOUVER. June 7.

The Prime Minister of New Zealand (Mr Holland) arrived in Vancouver by air from Tokyo last night to begiu a two-week Canadian visit before attending the Commonwealth Prime Ministers’ Conference in London late this month.

In spite of a light rain, Mr Holland, who is accompanied by Mrs Holland, inspected a 50-man guard of honour supplied by the Queen’s Own Rifles of Victoria.

Mr Holland said that during his journey to Canada by way of Australia. Singapore. Ceylon. Hong Kong and Japan, he had many discussions on the security and defence of the Pacific regions, which gave him a broad viewooint to add to his own at the Commonwealth Conference. In answer to a question, he said he had not discussed with the Prime Minister of Australia (Mr Menzies) any plans to establish a naval base on the west coast of Australia. A report from London last week suggested that a plan to build bases on the west coast of Australia and on the east coast of Africa was being considered in the event that British bases at Singapore and on Ceylon had to be evacuated. Mr Holland said the Commonwealth was a stronger influence for peace than at any time in the last 10 years.

(Earlier reference page 14)