Approach to China made

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32663, 20 July 1971, Page 1

Approach to China made

(New Zealand Press Association)

WELLINGTON, July 19. The New Zealand Government has authorised an approach to the Chinese Government in Peking for New Zealand to send a good-will mission to China.

Speaking to reportersto see China as a member but after this morning’s not at the expense of Taimeeting of the Cabinet, wan -

the Prime Minister (Sir Keith Holyoake) disclosed that the Government last week authorised an intermediary to make an approach.

Sir Keith Holyoake declined to name the intermediary. He said that he had in mind that people interested in trade would be a major part of the mission which he thought would number eight to 10. Asked if the mission would include a member of Parliament, Sir Keith Holyoake said that he did not think it would; be helpful to go into further! details. No reply had yet been re-1 ceived on the result of the approach. Sir Keith Holyoake said, and he did not know when a reply would be made. He would like the mission to go soon. Asked if he hoped some formula for China’s admission to the United Nations could follow from President Nixon’s visit to China he said he had always hoped some formula could be found. The Government at this stage had not made any change in attitude. It wanted

A New Zealand Manufacturers’ Federation spokesman said that the export committee of the federation would give strong support to any such moves.

Questions asked Most of the Australian journalists who were with the Australian Labour leader, Mr Gough Whitlam, on his visit to China were asked questions about the New Zealand Labour Party, according to the N.Z.P.A. staff correspondent in Canberra. i The journalists did not know at first why they were being quizzed but then dis:covered that a New Zealand] Labour Party mission had applied to go to China. “When we compared notes we found that most of us had been asked questions about New Zealand and the New Zealand Labour Party,” Kenneth Randall said today. Mr Randall, who writes for the national daily, the “Australian” was one of a number of reporters accompanying Mr Whitlam. He said that Chinese officials posed questions about the New Zealand Labour Party generally and its policies and outlook on China.

“They wanted to know whether there were any direct links between the A.L.P. and the New Zealand Labour Party and whether there was any consultation on policy issues and whether policies varied. “There were all sorts of questions in the way of background briefing for them.” The Australian journalists told the Chinese they were not fully conversant with the New Zealand Labour Party position but said the New Zealand and Australian parties were very close in outlook. They said that there was not much consultation nor ' many meetings between the 1 parties in spite of the geographic closeness of the two countries.

Mr Randall said that the Chinese had told Mr Whitlam of the New Zealand Labour Party’s applications for visas within alxiut 36 hours of receiving them. “They didn’t regard it as a l great secret and Mr Whitlam! ' informed us.” '! Mr Randall said that he; 1 had received no indication,; ; either way, about the chances; 'of a New Zealand Labour] I Party group getting into! I China.