MR HOLT LEAVES N.Z.

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31290, 9 February 1967, Page 3

MR HOLT LEAVES N.Z.

As the Prime Minister of Australia (Mr Holt) left the South Island from Christchurch Airport yesterday afternoon, he said it would not be 179 years before he was back.

It would not even be 15 years before New Zealand had another visit from him, If he were “spared to make a return,” he said when he was told at a news conference that it was 15 years since an Australian Prime Minister had visited New Zealand. He has told Mr Holyoake that he would like him to visit Australia. “He does not have to make any long preparations or to give us long notice—he will be welcome any time,” said Mr Holt. The invitation applied to other New Zealand ministers. Mr Holt said New Zealand and Australia were perhaps closer together than any two countries in the world being linked by language, good will, interests. This would be continued.

The only cloud in his holiday in the South Island was the tragic news of the last two days. But even this had shown how close the people of the two countries were.

Sorrow and sympathy had been given him on both these tragic things by the Prime Minister of New Zealand.

‘1 appreciate that,” said Mr Holt He was also appreciative of the sympathy from Mr Holyoake’s fellow-country-men. Tourist Potential Mr Holt said that he had seen something of the tourist potential of the South Island and that he would be discussing this potential with the Australian Minister of Tourist Activities. Asked what date the Deputy Prime Minister of Australia (Mr McEwen) would be visiting New Zealand for trade talks, Mr Holt said that he thought it would be very soon, probably this month.

From the Australian point of view, his Government wanted the New Zealand-Aus-tralia Free Trade Agreement to run for the benefit of both countries.

His Government hoped that in a growing prosperous Australia, there would be opportunities for New Zealand. If the agreement were found not to be working out

well for both countries, New Zealand would find Australia helpful and constructive. European Civilisation Mr Holt said that New Zealand and Australia happened to be two European civilisations in this part of the world. Both countries had opportunities fot trade with the growing economies of Asia and in particular South-east Asia and these opportunities

would be more fully developed if there was an area of peace, he said. His overwhelming impression from his tour was “good will and friendliness.” Greeted By Group Wherever he had gone about this country, he had found little groups of people had pulled up by the roadside, and had given him cheerful smiles and friendly greetings. Mr and Mrs Holt and their party left for Australia by

r R.A.A.F. Viscount at 5.04 p.m. i yesterday—one and a-half hours late. The destination was . changed from Sydney to Fair- [ bairn Airport, Canberra, be- . cause of the delay. , Mr Holt said that the delay had been caused by gusty . winds forcing the R.N.Z.A.F. . DC3 that was due to pick him i up at Tasman airstrip, at the ; Hermitage, to be diverted to ■ the Pukaki airstrip.

He and his party had to be driven by car yesterday afternoon the 27 miles from the Hermitage to Pukaki. Inspection Of Guard At Christchurch Airport Mr Holt inspected a 50-man guard of honour provided by the Royal New Zealand Air Force base at Wigram. About 200 persons at the airport welcomed him. Mrs Holt wore a bright turquoise figured silk suit with a matching pillbox hat. Both waved happily to the crowd.

He stood on an improvised dais on the tarmac in front of his waiting aircraft and took the salute before inspecting the guard of honour. Music was played by the Band of the New Zealand Army. He turned around on the gangway several times waving his hat in small circles. When the crowd on the airport balcony handclapped him, Mr Holt then gripped his hat with both hands and waved it from the gangway top step. The Minister of Agriculture (Mr Taiboys) bade him farewell on behalf of the Government and the Prime Minister.

Others who bade him farewell included Lieutenant-Com-mander C. J. Carl, an honorary aide-de-camp tn the Gov-ernor-General (Sir Bernard Fergusson) representing him, and the Australian Trade Commissioner for the South Island (Mr M. G. B. Coultas).