REQVEST TO P.M. Leave Wanted For Couple To Marry

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30580, 24 October 1964, Page 16

REQVEST TO P.M. Leave Wanted For Couple To Marry

(Special Correspondent N.Z.P.A.I TOKYO, October 23 The manager of the New Zealand team, Mr W. A. Stevenson, telephoned the Prime Minister (Mr Holyoake) from Tokyo today to make a plea on behalf of the bronze medal winner in the women’s 800 metres. Miss M. A. M. Chamberlain, of Christchurch.

Miss Chamberlain is to be married on November 14 but since she has been in Tokyo she has been advised that her fiance. Corporal D. R. Stephens, a former Canterbury Rugby representative, is to leave for Thailand the following day in a detachment of Army engineers. Attempts to have his departure delayed have been unsuccessful so far.

Mr Stevenson said today that Miss Chamberlain had been very upset and despondent over the matter and he had decided to ask Mr Holyoake to intervene on compassionate grounds. He had asked that Corporal Stephens should be granted ten days’ leave of absence to

allow the young couple to have their honeymoon before he has to go to Thailand.

Mr Stevenson said that Corporal Stephens had requested to be allowed to resign from the Army but his request had not been accepted.

Miss Chamberlain had wanted to return home immediately but Mr Stevenson decided that all members of the New Zealand team should be kept together and leave Tokyo on Sunday.

Asked to comment on the request, Mr Holyoake said in Wellington last night that he would make an inquiry into the matter. The Army headquarters offices were closed when he received the telephone call from Tokyo, and he would not be able to deal with the question until next week.