Invitation Rejected

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31071, 28 May 1966, Page 1

Invitation Rejected

(N.Z. Press Association)

AUCKLAND, May 27. Mr T. E. Skinner, the president of the Federation of Labour, said tonight that he had turned down the French Government’s invitation to visit the nuclear test site on Mururoa atoll.

“The announcement made by the French Government that it intends to explode a series bf tests in the Mururoa atoll in the Pacific signifies the French Government’s intention of continuing to ignore world opinion not only with the present tests but also with its programme for the future.

“Opposition to the tests in the Pacific is growing as people are becoming more and more aware of the dangers that must result from the subsequent fall-out.

“The Federation of Labour urges the Government to submit the question to Parliament in an endeavour to unite

and rally the opposition of all the peoples in the Pacific. “In view of the French Government’s determination

to proceed with its plans, no good purpose would be served by my accepting the invitation to visit the testing site,” Mr Skinner said.

The invitation was made a month ago. Mr Skinner said he had sent a telegram to the Prime Minister (Mr Holyoake) today asking him to have the matter discussed in Parliament.

Mr Holyoake had replied that there would be ample opportunity during the present session to discuss nuclear

testing, and the French testing in the Pacific in particular, so that all parties in the House could support the Government’s stand in the

actions already taken. Mr Holyoake said tonight that the Government had not been invited by France to send scientists from New Zealand to inspect the test site.