P.M. hopes to meet Ford

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33611, 13 August 1974, Page 14

P.M. hopes to meet Ford

(New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, August 12. The Prime Minister (Mr Kirk) hopes to meet the new American President (Mr Ford) when he visits the United States next month to address the United Nations.

“I am certainly hoping to meet the new President while I am there, though nothing is arranged yet,” Mr Kirk said at a press conference. He expects to be in America for about a week, and besides addressing the United Nations on September 22 or 23, will probably attend a trade promotion in Minnesota.

Mr Kirk has to return to New Zealand for the visit here by the Shah of Iran, but he confirmed tonight that he would leave on October 1 to attend the South Pacific Commission conference in Rarotonga, staying about four or five days. Asked if he planned to visit Europe later this year, Mr Kirk said he hoped to do so but this would depend largely on whether Britain had a General Election about October. He said he had invitations from both Mr Heath and Mr Wilson to visit Britain, and Mr Wilson’s invitation had been renewed when the British Trade Minister (Mr Shore) was in Wellington last week. ' Mr Shore had indicated that an election could be expected this year. Mr Kirk said it would be

important for him to visit Europe, because of decisions to be made affecting mainly the trade in meat.