Delegation Reports On Visit To Soviet Union

Press, Volume C, Issue 29671, 15 November 1961, Page 12

Delegation Reports On Visit To Soviet Union

Great interest in learning about the life and people of Naw Zeta and was very apparent during a three weeks’ stay in theSovtet Union by three members of • New Zeeland deligstioo which recently visited that country as gueata of the UASJLNew Zealand Society. The delegation, aU members of the Dominion counterpart of the Soviet society, consisted of the national secretary (Mre R. Bailey), the Christchurch branch president (Mr C. Lewis) and a member of the Auckland executive, Mr A. Morris.

According to a statement by the delegation valuable discussions wore held with various Soviet ministries, including those of trade, culture, education, and health, and plans were laid, for exchanges during the next two years. One of the biggest devetapmenta will be the stepping up of tourist groups, which from Naw Zealand will include jpnriatist as well as general groups sponsored. by the society. The detegation visited the Byetoruastan, Ajsrbnjan, Uzbekistan, Ukrainian, and Russian republics. Everywhere it was met with warm, friendly receptions, the statement says, and the delegation was most Impressed by the constantly expressed desire of the Soviet people to live in peace and friendship with all countries. Interest in learning about the Dominion was particularly strong from individual and collective members of the ÜBBJt-New Zealand Society, which regularly bolds lectures on the Dom-

liaion to varioua orgsntaatio*M. soya the statement. In Baku, Azerbajan, toe delegation met a New Zealand enthußiort in the director of the Mingeebeur hydro power ztation—a station which woe one of the active ooMectore members of toe oodciy. Workere at toe »tation would like to eotebUto friendly contacts with hydroelectric workers in the Dominion, says the statement. Mre Bailey and Mr Lewis were making their second visit to the Soviet Union. Both were there in 1957 and both expressed amazement at toe great development that had taken place in such a short time. Moot noticeable had been the vast extension of building, which bad changed the Moscow skyline. the greater range of consumer goods and lower prices, and the improvements in clothing and fashion. The statement says that toe delegation was confident its visit had cleared the way for a greater number of exchanges between toe two countries.