M.P.s Impressed By Vietnamese Purpose

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31785, 16 September 1968, Page 16

M.P.s Impressed By Vietnamese Purpose

(From DAVID EXEL, N.Z.P.A. staff correspondent) SAIGON, September 15. New Zealand members of Parliament at present visiting South Vietnam said in a joint statement yesterday that they had been “struck by the determination expressed by Vietnamese leaders to tackle corruption, strengthen the rule of law and the popular support of the Government.”

The group, three Labour and three National members, issued their joint statement on their departure from Saigon for Singapore on the last leg of their journey round East Asia. They said they had also been impressed by the determination of Vietnamese leaders “to bear a steadily increasing share in the burden of the war and to seek a peace settlement based on democracy and national reconciliation." The members of the delega-

tion are Messrs D. C. Seath (Nat, Waitomo), D. A. Highet (Nat., Remuera), V. S. Young (Nat, Egmont), H. Watt (Lab., Onehunga), M. A. Connelly (Lab., Riccarton) and R. M. Barclay (Lab., New Plymouth). “Good Spirits”

The statement issued by the group as a whole, said: “We found all the New Zealanders we met both civilian and military, in good spirits. Their morale and dedication to their work is most gratifying.

“The accommodation problems of the civilian surgical team in Qui Nhon have been resolved, the living and working conditions of the services

! medical team in Bong Son are still not satisfactory but we were told the new hospital and living quarters will be completed by December. Warm Welcome

“We were very pleased to find how popular are the New Zealanders working in Binh Dinh province and we were touched by the warmth of the welcome we received there from the provincial and hospital authorities.” With their arrival in Singapore, the “official" section of the tour ended. The group will leave by R.N.Z.A.F. Hercules early tomorrow, and are expected to reach New Zealand on Tuesday night.