MISSION TO AMERICA

Southland Times, Issue 24437, 17 May 1941, Page 6

MISSION TO AMERICA

DELEGATES TO LEAVE SHORTLY (P.A.) AUCKLAND, May 16. Two New Zealand Ministers, the Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates, a member of the War Cabinet, and the Hon. F. Langstone, Minister of Lands, will leave for the United States shortly on independent missions. Mr Coates will discuss the supply of munitions and Mr Langstone will discuss trade, as well as making preliminary arrangements for the establishment of a New Zealand legation at Washington. _ Mr Coates, who arrived from the south today, does not expect to be away more than two months. He will be accompanied by his private secretary, Mr E. L. Officer. Mr Langstone, with departmental officers and his private secretary, Mi- B. R. Turner, is expected to arrive from Wellington tomorrow morning. He will have with him Mr G. A. Duncan, Director of the Marketing Department, and Mr L. J. Schmitt, of the Ministry of Supply. In a statement tonight Mr Coates said that for some months he had been privileged to serve on the War Cabinet. He regarded the invitation to visit Washington as a further opportunity of service which he was eager to undertake to the best of his ability, more particularly as it would bring him into touch with representatives of that great friendly country which was extending its sympathy so generously and in such a practical fashion to all British peoples in their present time of danger.