AMBASSADOR TO U.S.

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29240, 25 June 1960, Page 14

AMBASSADOR TO U.S.

Need Doubted By Mr Holloway

(New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, June 24.

Ambassadors in Washington and London were "not very necessary for New Zealand,” the Minister of Industries and Commerce (Mr Holloway) said in the House of Representatives today. “Speaking as a private member, I begin to doubt if the presence of ambassadors is very important to the conduct of New Zealand’s business in these places,” he said. Mr Holloway was replying to the Leader of the Opposition (Mr Holyoake), who accused the Government of making New Zealand “the laughing stock of the world" by its failure to appoint a High Commissioner in London or an Ambassador in Washington. Mr Holyoake said: “Perhaps the Prime Minister would not have dropped so many bricks during his overseas tour if he had had expert diplomatic advice available from Ambassadors in these unfilled posts. We have heard of the famous brickmanship’.” Mr’ Holloway said New Zealand had dealt with more business than ever before in London and Washington during the last two years while the posts were unfilled, and the business had all been handled satisfactorily. "Our relations with the United Kingdom and the United States have never been better. During this time we have renegotiated our United Kingdom trade agreements, and the two problems of wool duty and the meat inquiry in the United States have been satisfactorily concluded. “There is no issue where this country has fallen down. The test is that these jobs have been done very efficiently, by the competent staff we have in London and Washington. “I begin to doubt if the presence of Ambassadors is important,” Mr Holloway said.