Standing Invitation to Mr Churchill to Visit New Zealand

Grey River Argus, 18 February 1949, Page 6

Standing Invitation to Mr Churchill to Visit New Zealand

WELLINGTON, Feb. 17.

There has been for many years a standing invitation to Mr Churchill to visit New Zealand. Had the war with Japan dragged on, he would have visited this country with other British Ministers, to take part in War Cabinet meetings in Wellington and later in Canberra. Rt. Hon. P. Fraser stated this today, when commenting on a request by the Municipal Association conference that an invitation be extended to Mr Churchill. The Prime Minister said that, at various periods since 1941, invitations had been extended to Britain’s wartime leader.

“There is a standing order to visit this country at an time which is convenient. to Mr Churchill.” he said. “Mr Churchill knows this, and again I extended an invitation to him when I met him in Britain in October.” Had the war with Japan dragged on, added the Prime Minister, it was intended that not only Mr Churchill, but Mr Attlee, Mr Bevin and other members of the War Cabinet would visit New Zealand and Australia, and the Cabinet would have met in Wellington and Canberra. He had explained to Mr Churchill, said Mr Fraser, that the invitation came from all the people of New Zealand.