JOINING BY BRITAIN

Press, Volume C, Issue 29520, 23 May 1961, Page 16

JOINING BY BRITAIN

“N.Z. Worse Off”

(N.Z. Press Association)

HAMILTON, May 22. ! New Zealand would be definitely worse off if Britain joined the European Common Market under the

present agricultural proposals, said Mr J. G. Pryde, < secretary of the Dominion / Dairy Council of Federated ( Farmers, at the annual con- J ference in Hamilton today of < the Waikato dairy section of I the Federation. 1 However, the agriculturall I proposals, said Mr Pryde, had ’ not yet been finalised. !i Mr Pryde said that the< prospects for increased con-/ sumption of dairy produce in the six member countries 1 of the Common Market were .1 not bright and there was a l likelihood of them sending 1 more farm produce to Britain. 1 If Britain joined the Com- i mon Market, Denmark, New I Zealand's greatest competi- : toi, would follow her. ; Mr Pryde agreed with a < statement in the chairman’s ji report that the whole posi-l tion was still vague. Conflict-' i ing reports, he said, were / arriving daily in Wellington i as to what Britain was doing.ji There was no question but ; that the position would be worse for New Zealand if Britain joined the Market under the present:, proposals and was not ] granted compensations as far ( as the Commonwealth was 1 concerned. , < I

LONDON REPORT

Mr Holyoake Agrees (N.Z. Press Association) ' WELLINGTON, May 22. The Prime Minister (Mr Holyoake) today agreed with s. London Press report that ' no Commonwealth country j 1 had told the United Kingdom ' outright that she should not, iom the European Common/ Market. The report, in the "Sunday reiegraph,” said most Com- ' ,n, nwealth countries were 1 willing to give qualified approval to Britain joining. “I think that's a fair statement of the position.” Mr/ Holyoake said in reply to 1 questions at a press conference. “Our attitude depends ’ entirely on the conditions for Britain joining and the comoensatory arrangements made 1 for the entry of our produce,” the Prime Minister said.