Minister’s computer to log contacts

Press, 3 September 1984, Page 2

Minister’s computer to log contacts

BRUCE ROSCOE

BRUCE ROSCOE

in Tokyo

The Minister of Tourism, Mr Moore, plans to install a computer in his office to keep track of his new Japanese contacts. f ‘l have about 250 name cards of Japanese business and political people I have met, and when I get a computer I’m going to put them all in.

“They’ll all get Christmas or New Year cards and letters thanking them for helping us,” Mr Moore said before leaving Japan for South Korea.

“The lesson of this trip is that personal contacts have got to be kept up and not like an aftershave that’s worn off by midday. I don’t think any Minister had done it before on such a personal level.”

Mr Moore said about a dozen Japanese businessman would be coming to New Zealand as a result of his visit, and if he could not see some of them, a computer ' or word-processor would easily enable him to leave messages in their hotel welcoming them to New Zealand. “We’ve got to get a few things straight. One is continuity in our effort in Japan. More of our people are employed in New Zealand because of this market than any other market. “Yet for every politician, official or journalist that visits Japan, five times the number are going to Europe.” Mr Moore said the Minister of Agriculture, . Mr Movie, and the Minister of

Energy and Science and Technology, Mr Tizard, would probably be the next Cabinet members to visit Japan. The Christchurch link with Kurashiki, its Japanese sister city, may soon be complemented by the addition of two “adoption” arrangements between Christchurch and Kurashiki schools. Mr Moore said he dis- . cussed the idea with the Mayor of Kurashiki, Mr Yoshio Takizawa, at a reception in Kurashiki on Friday. He would approach interested schools in Christchurch on his return to New Zealand. The Minister said “adopted schools” would be an effective vehicle for the exchange of sports teams.