MR HOLLAND’S TOUR

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25386, 18 November 1943, Page 5

MR HOLLAND’S TOUR

BUSY TIME AT CANBERRA GUESTS OF PRIME MINISTER (0.C.) (0.C.) CANBERRA, Nov. 12. Mr S. G. Holland. M.P., Leader of the New Zealand Opposition, and Mr F. W. Doidge, M.P., had a busy time at Canberra on the morning of their arrival. They were the guests of the Prime Minister, Mr Curtin, at luncheon and on that occasion had the opportunity of meeting several Federal Ministers, including R{lr J. B. Chifley, Treasurer, Mr N. J. Makin, Minister of Munitions, and Mr A. C. Calwell, Minister of Information. During their stay in the Federal capital the visitors from New Zealand met many of the heads of the Government departments’ experts and economists engaged in Australia’s war effort, and availed themselves of the opportunity of an interchange of views on problems of mutual concern to Australia and New Zealand. Visits were paid to places of interest, including Duntroon Military College, where New Zealand cadets were introduced and were briefly addressed by Mr Holland. They were later the guests at many of Canberra’s lovely homes. Mr. Holland and Mr Doidge had the privilege of lunching at Government House with his Excellency the Gov-ernor-General, Lord Gowrie, and Lady Gowrie. They were also entertained to dinner by the British Minister, Sir Ronald Cross, and Lady Cross. Other distinguished hosts who entertained them included the American Minister, Mr Nelson Johnson, the Canadian High Commissioner, Mr Justice Davis, and the Netherlands Minister to Australia, Baron von Aerssen van Voshol.

An evening of particular pleasure to the visitors was that arranged by the New Zealand High Commissioner, Mr C. E. Berendsen, and Mrs Berendsen, when an opportunity was provided of meeting the New Zealand colony in Canberra. More than 60 New Zealanders now resident in the Federal capital were present on this occasion, and Mr Holland seized the opportunity of paying a tribute to the splendid work which was being done by Mr Berendsen. From Canberra Mr Holland and Mr Doidge travelled to Melbourne. \