U.K. PARLIAMENT DELEGATES

Grey River Argus, 1 July 1944, Page 4

U.K. PARLIAMENT DELEGATES

TOUR OF NEW ZEALAND.

P.A. WELLINGTON, June 30. Members of the United Kingdom and Canadian Parliamentary delegation, at present in Australia, will shortly arrive in New Zealand, and will be in the Dominion just under three weeks, said the Acting-Prime Minister, Hon. D. G. Stillivan, to-night. They will visit practically every part of the Dominion and an opportunity will be afforded all members of the New Zealand Parliament to meet and discuss various matters with them. Their primary purpose is to investigate the war effort, both in Australia and New Zealand, and at the same time to let the people of both Dominions know something of what the people ir« the United Kingdom and Canada are doing. ‘ Naturally,” said Mr. Sulliva'n, “in such a short period it will be impossible for the'delegation to be in any centre for any length of time, but an .opportunity to inspect New Zealand’s war effort in all its phases, particularly that of production and industry, will be afforded them.” In arranging the delegation’s itinerary, said (the Minister, a minimum time had been allocated to public functions so that investigations into the war effort would not be' encroached upon, but nevertheless, it was hoped that there would be some opportunity for public contacts. The Government had been deluged with, requests from a large number of organisations to meet and entertain members of the delegation, but it was impossible to accede to these, by reason of their limited stay in the Dominion. In particular, women’s organisations from one end of New Zealand to the other, expressed q/keen desire to meet Doctor Edith Summerskill. It had not been possible to make a selection of them, said Mr. Sullivan, but in the four centres where the delegation would be staying for more than one night, arrangements were being made for her to address combined gatherings of women. Another oifllculty in considering requests to meet Dr. Summerskill, said Mr. Sullivan, lay in the fact that she would have to leave New Zealand a week ahead of other members of the delegation. The Government regretted that the time at the delegation’s disposal made it impossible to make provision for all contacts that were eminently desirable, but nothing under a six weeks’ tour would make that. practicable. Mr. Sullivan added that details?of ; the.v tour would be announced • later.>< be/'i