Government House Heavily Guarded

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31195, 20 October 1966, Page 1

Government House Heavily Guarded

(New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, October 19. A heavy guard has been placed on Government House where President Johnson is staying tonight. Armed security men are on dutv inside, and oolicemen with dogs patrol the grounds.

The police said there were “no indications of any trouble in the city.”

Outside the airport when Mr Johnson arrived only two “unwelcoming” signs were displayed. One read “The Bully with the Air Force.” Signs along the route from the airport mainly expressed anti-Johnson Administration sentiments —“Bob Kennedy for President,” “New Zealand is Not United,” “Stop the War.”

One man displayed crossed banners —an American flag and a white one with a small sign reading “Stop Napalm.” In one garden a three-foot banner bore the “Bob Kennedy for President” slogan.

Near Government House, the crowds grew thicker—and there were protest signs in profusion, many of them printed in large black capital letters. “Withdraw New Zea-

land Troops Now,” “Goldwater’s Plans in Johnson’s Hands,” “No N.Z. blood for Dollars” the placards read. “Make love, not war,” read the banner held aloft by a young woman.

When the motorcade neared Government House the cheers waned, and were replaced by boos.

Earlier today as many Wellingtonians placed last-minute touches on the preparations to welcome the President and Mrs Johnson, some workers were hastily removing the signs of activity of the group strongly opposed to the visit. These opponents of American policy in Vietnam overnight selected the Kelburn cable-car—on Mrs Johnson’s itinerary for tomorrow—as their target. They pasted

stickers over the glass of one of the cars and painted low jokes on the walls of the Kelburn terminal building. While Mr Johnson flew towards New Zealand today 200 people knelt in St. Peter’s Anglican Church in Willjs street, Wellington, praying for a peaceful settlement in Vietnam. The silent vigil was held between noon and 2 p.m. The invitation to prayer on the front of the church said: “Join us in silent prayer for the statesmen meeting in conference that they may be led to a right solution for peace.” A clergyman who sat for almost two hours in the church said: “People really are thinking about this serious issue. They are worried and very bewildered by it all.”