MAY VISIT N.Z.E.F.

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20625, 28 November 1941, Page 4

MAY VISIT N.Z.E.F.

OPPOSITION LEADER MISSION TO BRITAIN DOMINION DELEGATION (Per Press Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, this day. The expectation that he would be able to visit the New Zealand Expeditionary Force in the Middle East after his visit to Great Britain, was expressed yesterday 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, the Rt. Hon. P. Fraser, and Minister for Finance, the Hon. W. Nash, were anxious that his return to New Zealand should be made via the Middle East, and if it were possible they would make the arrangement. He thought that the visit would be arranged. Mr. Holland said he was looking forward greatly to his trip. He hoped to go to America by sea and then to ily across the United States and the Atlantic to Britain and to visit the Middle East on his way' back to the Dominion. Naturally to a soldier a visit to the troops would be a great incident. Expenses of Trip Expenses of the trip were being met by the Empire Parliamentary Association, but the trip might cost the Government and the National Party some-, thing. When he was in Auckland recently, a deputation from the National Party had informed him that he had to return via the Middle East, if the Parliamentary Association or the Government would not permit the expense, he was to take an aeroplane to the Middle East even if it cost £SOO. “I have just completed three weeks’ tour of the country and everywhere there is the keenest desire that I should visit the Middle East,” said Mr. Holland, who described Mr. L. G. Lowry, the Government’s representative on the trip as “a capital chap and one of the group from which I would have chosen a campanion. ’

Mr. Lowry was visiting Canterbury next week and they would inspect defence works so that they would know more about the New Zealand war effort before they left for England.