N.Z. AID FOR BRITAIN

Press, Volume XCV, Issue 28198, 9 February 1957, Page 8

N.Z. AID FOR BRITAIN

WELLINGTON MAN’S COMPLAINT -(Special Correspondent N.Z.P.A.) LONDON, February 7. Mr H. Trewby, of Wellington, has sent a letter to the editor of the “Glasgow Herald’’ commenting on New Zealand’s attitude to the Suez operation.

He says that on December 5 last year he wrote to the Minister of Finance asking that consideration be given to the question of New Zealand making an offer to the United Kingdom to share* in the * cost of the Suez operations, “or alternatively that our government permit (individual) voluntary contributions to be remitted from here.

“The Minister replied: ‘I shall be glad to draw this to the attention of the Prime Minister and the Ministers of External Affairs, but I am certain New Zealand is doing everything it can to help the Government of the United Kingdom in the difficulties they are facing at the present time.’” Mr Trewby adds: “In reply to my inquiry on January 17 as to the outcome of the discussions, the Minister wrote: ‘I am not able to advise you what transpired in any discussions I might have had with the Prime Minister and the Minister of External Affairs regarding the Suez crisis.’ “It would seem.” Mr Trewby adds, “that nothing more is to be got from our Minister of Finance on the subject, so your readers can understand that if New Zealand makes or has made no contribution (we have not been .told that we will be making one or that we have made one), then the stumbling block may be our Government.”