RATIONALIST LEADER

Evening Star, Issue 24054, 28 November 1941, Page 3

RATIONALIST LEADER

WILL VISIT TROOPS IN MIDDLE EAST (P.A.) CHRISTCHURCH. Nov. 27. The expectation that he would he able to visit the New Zealand Expeditionary Force in the Middle East after his visit to Great 'Britain was expressed to-day by the Leader of the Opposition, Mr S. G. Holland, when speaking to the Christchurch North Committee of the National Party. He said the Prime Minister, Mr P. Eraser, and the Minister of Finance. Mr W. Nash, were anxitms that his return to New Zealand should be made via

the Middle East. and. if it were po=- I sible, they would make arrangements. 1 Mr Holland said ho hoped to go to. America by sea and then to fly across the United States and the Atlantic to ; Britain. The expenses of the trip were j being mot by the Empire. Parliamentary Association, but the trip might ; cost the Government and the National I Party something. When he was in Auckland recently a deputation from the National Party had informed him j

that he had to return via the Middle East, if the Parliamentary Association or the Government would not permit the expense, lie was to take an aeroplane to the Middle East, even if it cost £SOO. “ I have just completed a throe weeks’ tour of the country, and everywhere there is the keenest desire that T should visit the Middle East,” said Mr Holland, who described Air L. <J. Lowry, the Government’s representa-

tive on the trip, as “ a capital chap and one of a group from which 1 would have chosen a companion.” When making a presentation to Air Holland, Mr W. A. C. McDonald, chairman of the Christchurch North Committee. said they all* hoped it would be possible for the party’s leader to visit the Aliddle East. It was only right that he should visit the troops at the present time and see if anythiiji more could be done for them.