PRELIMINARY WORK ON ARRANGING ROYAL TOUR OF N.Z.

Greymouth Evening Star, 7 April 1948, Page 5

PRELIMINARY WORK ON ARRANGING ROYAL TOUR OF N.Z.

WELLINGTON, April 0. Although it is unlikely that the itinerary for the tour of New Zealand early next year by the King, and Queen and Princess Margaret will be decided upon for some months, preliminary research work has already been begun by the Internal Affairs Department. The Under-Secretary of Internal Affairs (Mr J. W. Heenan) is expected to leave for England soon to discuss at Buckingham Palace the arrangements for the Royal tour. Mr Heenan, who is due to retire from the Public Service shortly, has been asked by the Prime Minister (Mr P. Fraser) to postpone his retirement so that he can manage the tour. A recent icable from Canberra said that the official appointed to manage the Royal tour of Australia was going to England to make arrangements for the Australian visit. , One of the first decisions will be the appointment of a manager and assistant-manager for the tour. At some later stage local authorities will be asked for suggestions of celebrations in their areas. AIRCRAFTOT KING’S FLIGHT ARRIVES (P.A.) AUCKLAND, April 6. An aircraft of the King’s Flight, a Vickers Viking, flown by a distinguished New Zealand pilots and carrying the captain of the King’s Flight, reached Whenuapai from England at 5 o’clock this afternoon as a preliminary to the visit early next year of the King and Queen and Princess Margaret. Air Commodore E. H. Fielden, captain of the King’s Flight, Wing Commander E. W. Tacon, of Hastings, commander of the aircraft, and their crew were met at the areodrome by senior representatives of the Royal New Zealand Air Force and the Government.