Japan’s Prime Minister To Arrive Tomorrow

Press, Volume CVII, Issue 31499, 13 October 1967, Page 16

Japan’s Prime Minister To Arrive Tomorrow

The Japanese Prime Minister (Mr Eisaku Sato) and Mrs Sato will arrive at Christchurch Airport aboard a Japan Airlines DCB at 4 p.m. tomorrow.

They will be met by the Minister of Agriculture (Mr Taiboys), representing the Prime Minister (Mr Holyoake), and the Japanese Ambassador in New Zealand (Mr H. Takeuchi). After a news conference, Mr Sato and his party will fly by a R.N.Z.A.F. DC3 to Mount Cook. The s’ay at the Hermitage will be free from official engagements. On Sunday, the Japanese party will visit Glentanner station, where it will be met by the manager (Mr I. K. Ivey) and will watch sheepdog demonstrations. At 5.55 p.m. the party will leave Mount Cook by air for Christchurch, and from the airport will travel along Memorial Avenue, Fendalton Road, Harper Avenue, Park Terrace, Rolleston Avenue, and Worcester Street to Cathedral Square. Mr and Mrs Sato will stay at the United Service Hotel.

On Sunday evening, the Japanese party will have an informal meeting with the Mayor (Sir George Manning) and Lady Manning, local members of Parliament and their wives, and other guests. The visitors will then dine privately. The Mayor will say farewell to Mr and Mrs Sato at their hotel on Monday morning, and the party will travel to the airport by the route used on its arrival, before leaving by a R.N.Z.A.F. DC6 for Wellington. After Monday, during which there will be talks with the Prime Minister and members of the Cabinet as well as a State dinner in the evening, the party will visit Auckland and Hamilton. Mr and Mrs Sato will be accompanied by four members of the ’ Diet and more than 20 counsellors, secretaries, and other Japanese officials. Twenty Japanese journalists and cameramen will tour New Zealand with the party, as well as two American correspondents.