TRADE TALKS IN LONDON

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28530, 8 March 1958, Page 12

TRADE TALKS IN LONDON

N.Z. Delegation Named

(New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, March 7.

The composition of the New Zealand delegation to carry out a review of the provisions of the Ottawa Agreement with the British Government was announced by . the Acting-Prime Minister (Mr Skinner) to-night. Mr Skinner s’aid the Government was glad to have the services of Mr J. P. D. Johnsen as leader of the delegation. Mr Johnsen had long association with tariff matters as Comptroller of Customs until his retirement last year. He also played an important part in the trade talks in Britain last April and May. The other members ol the delegation will be Mr R. B. Tennent, Director-Qeneral of Agriculture, Dr. W. B. Sutch, assistant secretary, Department of Industries and Commerce, Mr K. L. Press, assistant Comptroller of Customs. In London, the delegation will be joined by Mr G. R. Hope; commercial counsellor, and Mr L. V. Castle, counsellor (economic), both of the New Zealand High Commissioner’s office. Mr Skinner said that, during his visit in January, the British Prime Minister (Mr Macmillan) had agreed with the New Zealand proposal that discussions should be held in London to review the provisions’ of the Ottawa Agreement in the light of the changes in trading arrangements since the agreement was signed in 1932.

Mr Macmillan and the Prime Minister (Mr Nash) had agreed that, in the first instance, the discussions should be between officials of the two governments. The question of the necessity for discussions between Ministers would be considered, in the light of the reports received by the governments concerning the progress of the official talks.

The negotiations would begin, in April and Were likely to take several weeks