Hospital Suggested As Aid For Cambodia

Press, Volume CX, Issue 32360, 28 July 1970, Page 18

Hospital Suggested As Aid For Cambodia

(New Zealand Press 'Association)

AUCKLAND, July 27. Establishing a hospital similar to those in South Vietnam was one way in which New Zealand could assist Cambodia, Sir Leslie Munro, the leader of a six-man Parliamentary factfinding mission to South-East Asia, said on he return tonight.

Sir Leslie Munro and the Opposition member for New Lynn (Mr J. L. Hunt) arrived back on a flight from Singapore today. The other four members of the mission will return tomorrow. Sir Leslie Munro said he would discuss the matter of a hospital with the Prime Minister later this week. One difficulty, however, would be to find doctors to staff such a hospital. There was already a doctor shortage in New Zealand. He said that during the party’s five-hour visit to Phnom Penh he had spoken with the Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister, who indicated that Cambodia wanted all the help it could get.

| "I think we will be called , upon to tend more aid there," I he said. i He said he thought New ■ i Zealand could provide more : , continued medical assistance, , but he did not think New Zealand was in the position ' I to provide military aid. All supplies of arms and equipment would bo required : i by the New Zealand troops f in South Vietnam. ■ Mr Hunt said he had talked with the director of , medical services for the Cam. » bodlan Government, who had i told him that medical instru- - monte were needed. Mr Hunt said he was Im. ) pressed with the development > which had taken place in the i last two years. > Sir Leslie Munro was last I in South-East Asia in 1886 > and Mr Hunt visited the area 10 1967.

Such was the progress in South-East Asia that it would be highly desirable if there was at least one visit by a Parliamentary team to the area each year, Mr Hunt said. “I would like to see every New Zealand member of Parliament get to South-East Asia at least once every five years," he said. One country New Zealand had to take more notice of was South Korea. A trade post should be set up and consideration should be given to establishing some sort of permanent representation.