P.M. names new envoy to United States

Press, 18 March 1982, Page 1

P.M. names new envoy to United States

PA Wellington The former Cabinet Minister. Mr Lance AdamsSchneider. is New Zealand's next Ambassador to the United States, the Government announced last evening. Mr Adams-Schneider succeeds the late Mr Frank Gill, who died recently of cancer. The announcement was made by the Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs (Mr Thomson) who said Mr Adams-Schneider was expected to take up his post in early May.

Mr Thomson said NewZealand was fortunate that Mr Adams-Schneider was available to take up the post of ambassador to a country of “crucial importance to New Zealand in the political, defence, and trade fields."

He had had long experience as a Cabinet Minister and therefore'intimate knowledge of Government policy.

Mr Adams-Schneider's background in the Government made him “well placed to represent the broad range Of New Zealand's interests.”

‘‘His experience as Minister of Trade and Industry will be particularly useful in pursuing New Zealand’s trading interests in the United States,” Mr Thomson said.

“The New Zealand Ambassador to Washington has a demanding job. He must keep a close eye on a wide range of issues of importance to New Zealand. He must be prepared to work hard and long in pursuing our interests with both the Administration and Congress.

“I know that Mr AdamsSchneider has the personal qualities to acquit himself well in these tasks,” Mr Thomson said. Mr Adams-Schneider, who is 62, was born in Wellington and was educated at Petone Memorial Technical College, and Mount Albert Grammar

School. Auckland. On leaving school he went straight into the retail textile trade, an industry in which he has had 25 years experience at all levels from the shop counter to being in business on his own account.

During World -War II Mr Adams-Schneider served in the Army, both at home and overseas. In 1953 he moved from Auckland to Taumarunui. where he was elected to the Tattmarunui Borough Council and to the presidency of the local Chamber of Commerce. He also became an executive member of the Retailers' Federation. His involvement in National Party work- grew, and he became vice-chair-man of the party's Waitomo electorate and a’ member of the Waikato divisional executive.

After a by-election in May; 1959. Mr Adams-Schneider entered Parliament as the member for Hamilton, and held that seat until it was abolished after the relocation of electoral boundaries. He continued in Parliament, however, being elected the member for Waikato in 1969. He held this seat until retiring last year as Minister of Trade and Industry. •