Free Overseas Holidays For U.S. Clergyman

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30808, 21 July 1965, Page 18

Free Overseas Holidays For U.S. Clergyman

Many American clergymen travel around the world free of charge on their annual vacations, according tn Dr. C. S.' Kendall, minister of the First Methodist Church. Hollywood, who arrived in Christchurch yesterday. Dr. Kendall said he was only one of many ministers who led overseas tours for their parishioners and friends. “Yes, 1 suppose it is a business to the extent that my wife and 1 do not have to nay for our trips.” he said. The couple have been doing this since 1961. visiting Europe Asia. Palestine, and now the South Pacific. They have 22 tourists with them this time, attracted byglossy brochures decorated with pictures of hula girls. They pay 2098 dollars each Next year the Kendalls will take their free vacation in Scandinavia and Russia. Dr. Kendall denied that the tours were commercial ventures. H e said he made n o money out of them. “The purpose is to let these people see places which they would not go to without someone to take them.” he said. Dr. Kendall’s brochure says ! he is a member of the Methodist Church’s Board of Evangelism, a representative to the World Council of Churches, a director of the Hollywood Young Men’s Christian Association, past-president of the

Los Angeles Church Federation. a member of the Hollywood Lions Club, a test driver for the Chrysler Motor Corporation’s turbine car, a 32nd degree Mason, a recording artist in chimes and earn Hon. and a director of two college fraternities. He said yesterday that 40,000 applicants wanted to be civilian test drivers for the turbine car, including President'Johnson (before he became persident). Dr. Kendall said he was an “automobile buff” who was now driving his fifty-eighth car. and was keen to drive the turbine. He was in Manila when his application form arrived, and to make sure his envelope was noticed by the Chrysler Corporation he covered it with Philippine stamps. He was one of those selected, and was allowed to drive the car for his own purposes for three months. Dr. Kendall said it was cheap to run, and he had it up to 110 miles an hour and could have gone to 150 miles an hour if he had not been afraid of taking off.

Indian Fruit— Special consignments of pineapples grow in Tripura, north-eastern India, have been flown to Switzerland and West Germany as part of a drive to popularise Indian fruit. —Calcutta, July 21.