Mr Kirk Praises N.Z. Troops

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 32313, 3 June 1970, Page 18

Mr Kirk Praises N.Z. Troops

(N.Z.P.A. Staff Correspondent)

SINGAPORE, June 2.

All New Zealanders were proud of the job New Zealand troops were doing in Singapore and Malaysia, the Leader of the Opposition (Mr Kirk) told soldiers of the First Battalion, R.N.Z.1.R., today.

Addressing about 100 of the troops at their base at Nee Soon, Mr Kirk, who is on an Asian tour, said: “You are doing a good job and it is being done well.” Earlier, in an interview, Mr Kirk, who yesterday talked for half an hour with the Singapore Prime Minister (Mr Lee Kuan Yew), said the Singaporeans Wanted New Zealand to maintain troops on the island. “There would be considerable dismay if we pulled them out,” he said. Mr Kirk spent today visiting some of the 500 New Zealand servicemen based in Singapore. He talked to Army Headquarters staff at Tanglin barracks, and then visited Air Force men of 41 Squadron at Changi. Mr Kirk met officers and men of the infantry battalion at Nee Soon and had lunch there, before visiting the New Zealand Navy contingent I training Singapore recruits at

the Maritime Training Centre. He was guest of honour at a dinner given by the ruling People’s Action Party tonight. He will leave Singapore for Malaysia tomorrow.