Protection By Britain

Press, Volume CVII, Issue 31379, 26 May 1967, Page 15

Protection By Britain

(N.Z. Press Association)

WELLINGTON, May 24. The Prime Minister (Mr Holyoake) said in Parliament today that any arrangements made by the British Government for the safety of its citizens during the present crisis in the Middle East would automatically apply to New Zealanders. He was answering an urgent question by Mr G. F. Gair (Nat, North Shore), who asked how many New Zea-

landers were living in Israel, Egypt, Lebanon, Syria and Jordan, what arrangements the Government had made to keep a watch on their safety, how many New Zealanders were visiting those countries as tourists and how New Zealand’s trade would be affected if the Suez Canal were closed Mr Holyoake said New Zealand did not have direct representation in any of t he countries mentioned. The British consulates in the area acted on behalf of New Zealand. Twenty-nine New Zealanders were living in Israel and one in Syria and inquiries were being made about the numbers in the other countries. It was impossible to say

bow many New Zealand tourists might be in the area as .they did not necessarily make their whereabouts known to the British consulates. The closing of the Suez Canal would not affect New Zealand trade to any great extent because there were alternative sea routes to Britain, Mr Holyoake said.