Tribute to former P.M.

Press, 15 February 1982, Page 4

Tribute to former P.M.

NZPA staff correspondent Kidderminster A former New Zealand Prime Minister, the late Sir Walter Nash, has been remembered in Kidderminster, the Midlands carpet tow - n where he was born 100 years ago.

Tributes to Sir Walter, who was born in Kidderminster on February 12. 1882. and died in 1968. were paid on Friday at a special meeting of the Mayor and councillors, attended by the New Zealand High Commissioner. Mr L. W. Gandar. Liberal. Labour, and Conservative councillors, dressed specially for the occasion in their red and blue robes, spoke in favour of a motion:

"That it be recorded in the minutes that this meeting was held to commemorate the centenary of the birth of Sir Waller Nash on February 12, 1882. to express pride in the fact that he was born in Kidderminster, to express pleasure in the fact that the town of his birth recognised his outstanding achievements by admitting him to the Roll of Honorary Freemen of the Borough of Kidderminster on March 1. 1937. and (o pay tribute to his long and distinguished record of public service in the national and international affairs of New Zealand of which country he was Prime Minister from 1957 to 1960." There were also tributes to

Sir Walter in messages from the Prime Minister (Mr Muldoon) and the Leader of the Opposition (Mr Rowling).

Mr Muldoon said that Sir Walter had left an indelible mark on the country of his adoption.

•‘He was Prime Minister only briefly at a time when much of the early reformist zeal of the New Zealand Labour Party had almost burnt itself out but he never lost his own." Mr Muldoon said.

Mr Rowling said that the New Zealand Labour Party joined in honouring Sir Waiter who had crossed the world to become an international statesman and one of the architects of a social revolution.