London Post Refused

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 32304, 23 May 1970, Page 44

London Post Refused

(N.Z. Press Association) WELLINGTON, May 22. Sir Leslie Munro, member of Parliament for Hamilton West, today revealed that the Prime Ministe. (Mr Holyoake) had offered him the post of High Commissioner in London. Sir Leslie Munro would have succeeded Sir Thomas Macdonald, but refused the post. The offer was disclosed this morning during question time in the House when Mr Holyoake told the Opposition that members would be surprised if they knew “the very high diplomatic post,” he had offered Sir Leslie Munro when Sir Leslie returned from his Ambassador’s post in Washington. Mr Holyoake did not say

what the post was but Sir Leslie Munro told N.Z.P.A. in an interview later that the post was London. He did not

disclose his full reasons for declining, but said: “It was a high honour offered to me, but I preferred to remain in my own country, and in the House, to serve my constituents.” Mr Holyoake's disclosure was made during supplementary questions on the political appointees of both parties over the years, which started when Sir Leslie Munro asked Mr Holyoake to name the political appointees made to overseas posts by Labour Governments. Opposition members asked several 'questions about the Government’s political appointees during the year. The latest non-career appointee to a diplomatic post abroad, Mr A. J. Yendell, of Hamilton, who has been appointed High Commissioner to Australia, was mentioned only once during the questioning, but it was obviously criticism of this appointment that prompted Sir Leslie Munro’s question.