Trust Paid Hotel Bill

Press, Volume CX, Issue 32351, 17 July 1970, Page 24

Trust Paid Hotel Bill

(N.Z. Press Association) WELLINGTON, July 16. The touring Maori Theatre Trust Company is not $7OOO out of pocket after taking part in New Zealand’s national day celebrations at Expo 70. The trust’s director-general (Mr P. M. Love) said in a statement today that the hotel in Osaka had failed to realise that the trust’s account had in fact been paid

in full more than three weeks before the group arrived in Japan, and this had caused the misunderstanding which led the tour manager, Mr P. Keiha, to approach the Prime Minister (Sir Keith Holyoake) for financial assistance. “I have advised the Prime Minister that a full remittance for the hotel account was made from New Zealand with Reserve Bank permission in June, and that an additional amount for meals of $7OO, not $7OOO, was incurred by the trust’s company which was excessive in terms of the expected costs of meals, but which can be met by the trust “The whole tour is selfsupporting and has been carefully budgeted, but Osaka costs were slightly higher than expected, and I am sure other foreign visitors found prices for food far in excess of their expectations also. “A special meeting of the board of trustees was held today and it was resolved that the Government be advised of the real position, and that an apology be conveyed to the Prime Minister regretting any inference that the trust was not happy with the support already received from the Government, the N.Z.B.C. and the Expo Commission. “The trust’s participation

in the Expo programme was most successful and all members of the cast were thrilled by the way in which the Japanese people received the performance in Osaka.” Mr Love said the company was due to arrive in Russia today. A premiere performance was scheduled in Moscow on Sunday. “This will be the first performance of Polynesian culture ever seen by a Russian audience within the Soviet Union,” he said.