N.Z. Popular In Asia Through E.C.A.F.E.

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28531, 10 March 1958, Page 9

N.Z. Popular In Asia Through E.C.A.F.E.

(Special Correspondent N.Z.P.A.) (Rec. 9 p.m.) KUALA LUMPUR, March 9. New Zealand has gained ground in Asia through effective and at times spectacular attendance at the current Economic Commission for Asia and the, Far East meeting in Kuala Lumpur.

The presence of the Prime Minister (Mr Nash) and the reception given his address to delegates bave made New Zealand a big Mme in the E.C.A.F.E. organisation

Many Asian delegates have been ]oud in their praise of Mr Nash’s integrity and advice. His repeated urging of higher living standards in Asian countries, his praise of E.C.A.F.E. efforts to attain them, his pleas that progress should not be made •t the expense of personal freedom— and New Zealand’s offer of 100,000 dollars for the Mekong river scheme —have been accepted ample proof that New Zealand

is awake to Asia’s problems and wants to help solve them. Mr Nash and Mr Richard Casey, the Australian External Affairs Minister, were yesterday received in audience by the King of Malaya, the Yang Di-Pertuan Agong. They later lunched with the Yang Di-Pertuan Agong at his palace. Today Mr Nash flew to Manila to attend the annual Council meeting of South-east Asia Treaty Organisation. Before he left he recorded a talk for the United Nations Radio. He said that food-producing countries like New Zealand should co-operate with the countries of E.C.A.F.E. to seek some way by which it could continue to sell and they could buy food so badly needed to sustain nutrition and diet standards. ‘‘Why can’t the nations of the world manage and organise trade in the interests of greater stability of production, consumption and rising living standards?” he

asked. The problem was a challenge to E.C.A.F.E. and the free world.

Mr Nash was bidden farewell by Tengku Adbul Rahman, the Malayan Prime Minister, and a band playing “Auld Lang Syne” when he left Kuala Lumpur. He broke his journey at Singapore and attended a service. He read the lesson at St. Andrew’s Cathedral. The Dean at the Cathedral, Canon E. A. Sheild, is formerly of Patea and Wellington. The cathedral priest who conducted the service was the Rev. L. E. Pfankuch, formerly of Christchurch.

Mr Nash will spend one hour in Saigon on the flight. He hopes to meet South Vietnam leaders there.