P.M. 'made impression in Indonesia'

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33427, 8 January 1974, Page 2

P.M. 'made impression in Indonesia'

Zealand Press Association?

WELLINGTON, January 7.

New Zealand's Prime Minister (Mr Kirk) had made a fine impression in Indonesia on Parliamentarians, Christians at the holiday resort of Lake Toha, and Indonesian children, the Indonesian Ambassador (Mr Soetikno Loekitodisastro) said today.

The Ambassador, who toured Indonesia with the Prime Minister, said, “He got a very nice coverage front the press, radio, and television.

“He made a good impression when he mentioned in an address to Parliament that NewZealand supported the Archipelago principle, which we also support. This was given full television coverage.

“The pastor at Lake Toba asked the Prime Minister to attend the church service there on Christmas Eve. The whole service was in Batak, so we only recognised the hymns. When they sang in Batak, we joined in in English,” said the Ambassador. “I was impressed at the end of the service w’hen the pastor asked the Prime Minister to say a few words, and

this was translated intoi Batak. “He spoke of the closen-| ing relationships between] Indonesia and New Zealand,! and said he was convinced that at long last people knew! (that they had to live together! (in peace. “He spoke of Christmas in |

iiNew Zealand, and said it was; (a family affair, a time when' ■(families joined together to i(spend Christmas in peace.”; ,! The Christian message had' I • been much appreciated; jamong the Lutheran congre’(gation, said the Ambassador? (Most Christians in Indonesia] i(were Lutherans, as the Ger-’

(man missionary. Nommenson,; (had been the first Christian; : to carry the gospel into Indo- j nesia. | The Ambassador. a (Lutheran himself, said he had (been most impressed by the | Prime Minister’s attentions to (the many small children he (encountered on his visit to 11 Indonesia. : j “He likes small children. [ Whenever he visited a place f or a project, he would step } out of line to talk to the children. When he flew to , the islands near Djakarta, ( where he visited oil rigs, he - took only one package. This ]! was meant for the children. “He impressed me because r ; everywhere he went he tried (to get .the confidence of the T “He went to the centre for children in I]Djakarta. He spent an hour 3 i there with the children. Most -(visitors spend half an hour,” the Ambassador said.