Hinemoa Sought As Press Hotel

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31187, 11 October 1966, Page 1

Hinemoa Sought As Press Hotel

(N.Z. Press Association) WELLINGTON, October 10. Negotiations with the Union Steam Ship Company to use the former ferry Hinemoa as a floating hotel for the large press contingent covering President Johnson’s visit next week were opened today by United States Embassy officials. The general manager of the company, Mr A. T. Waugh, said today he hoped to put a proposition before the Americans tomorrow. The information officer at the embassy, Mr T. T. Driver, said he was hopeful that the embassy would be able to use the Hinemoa to provide living and working quarters for the press party. The 8000-ton Hinemoa was retired from the inter-island run at the end of July and is at present laid up waiting to be sold. She can accommodate almost 800 persons. United States officials spent this morning planning overnight accommodation, the

most pressing problem since the visit on October 19-20 was announced last week. The Prime Minister (Mr Holyoake) today confirmed that he had the draft itinerary and that it met approval at today’s Cabinet meeting. It has been cabled to President Johnson for approval and is expected to be announced tomorrow. The news team with the presidential party is now expected to exceed 150, Mr Driver said today. This number would be doubled by news representatives travelling independently from the United States and other parts of the world. Mr Driver said the embassy hoped to recommission the Hinemoa, berth it at the overseas passenger terminal opposite Queen’s Wharf, and connect it with telephone and telegraph communications. He hoped stewards and other staff for the ship would be supplied locally. If this was impossible, staff from the Antarctic Support Force establishment in Christchurch would be called upon. Mr Waugh said he hoped to place a firm proposition before the Americans tomorrow. He could not give any indication of the cost involved. Mr Driver said his staff had found an acute shortage of

hotel rooms for the time of the visit. So far they had perhaps 25 assured, which would be used for senior aides in the Presidential party. The President and Mrs Johnson are most likely to stay overnight at Government House. Offers to find farms suitable for the President to visit were made today by the Federated Farmers and by the Hereford Cattle Breeders’ Association. Mr Johnson is a breeder of Hereford cattle. A steady flow of United States officials, technicians and advisers into New Zealand has already begun.

About 15 technicians arrived at Ohakea today. Two United States secret service officers, a communications officer and two information officers stayed in Wellington after week-end talks between American and New Zealand officials. U.S.I.S. officers are due from Japan and Singapore in the next few days to supplement the resident staff in Wellington. The United States Secretary of State, Mr Dean Rusk, is expected to come, and, as with other Cabinet members and senior military officers who come, will have a retinue

of aides, secretaries and advisers The President will bring his own podium. It bears the Presidential seal, and is equipped with its own power lines and outlets for television, radio and other communications. Two Demonstrations The Committee on Vietnam announced today it would hold two mass anti-Vietnam demonstrations in Wellington during the President’s 25hour visit, one outside Government House when the President arrived and one in the grounds of Parliament Buildings during the lunchhour the next day.

“We plan completely orderly demonstrations to show the Americans that New Zealand is not whole-heartedly in support of President Johnson and the United States’ Vietnam policy,” said Mr Mitcalfe, chairman of the Committee on Vietnam. Mr Mitcalfe said the visit indicated the great lengths Mr Johnson would go to to bolster support for the coming elections in Australia, New Zealand and the United States.

The president of the New Zealand Democratic Society, Mr F. F. Curry, said the society would oppose and try to ridicule the demonstration.