LONDON VISIT BY MINISTER

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28549, 31 March 1958, Page 10

LONDON VISIT BY MINISTER

Confusion Over Purpose (NX. Press Association —Copyright) LONDON, March 28. There seems to be some (light confusion about the purpose of the visit to London of the New Zealand Minister of Agriculture (Mr Skinner). It does not seem quite clear whether he is to lead a delegation to what is known as the “Ottawa" talks beginning on April 17, or whether he is seeking separate talks with the President of the Board of Trade and the Minister of Agriculture or whether he is chiefly concerned with New Zealand's application for tmti-dumping duties. . Reflecting this mild confusion, the diplomatic correspondent of the “Financial Times" remarks that since the examination of the application by the Board of Trade is in the nature of a semi-judi-cial process, the New Zealand Government may prefer to await the outcome rather than create the impression that it is trying to apply political pressure during the examination.

The "Financial Times” today publishes a letter from Mr L. P. F. Smith, economic adviser to the National Farmers' Association at Dublin.

He says there is a certain wry humour in the application by New Zealand and British fanner, for action to curtail by special duties the imports of butter from selected countries which are “not established suppliers ot the British market.” Ireland was an established supplier before New Zealand was discovered—even in the thirteenth century.”