The Press FRIDAY, MAY 26, 1961. New Zealand And The E.E.C.

Press, Volume C, Issue 29523, 26 May 1961, Page 12

The Press FRIDAY, MAY 26, 1961. New Zealand And The E.E.C.

111-advised comment on 'the European Economic Community (“ Common Mar- “ ket”), both in England and in New Zealand, does not help the Government

representatives now engaged in difficult negotiations. Britain is seriously considering adherence to the provisions of the Treaty of Rome and membership of the E.E.C. This must be faced in New Zealand, as in Britain. .If, as seems likely, Britain first signifies assent to the principles of the E.E.C. before committing itself to definite terms and conditions, Interested parties on the Continent, in Britain, and in other Commonwealth countries will have ample opportunity to discuss those terms and conditions. It is obstructive as well as premature for the chairman of the New Zealand Meat Producers' Board (Mr J. D. Ormond) to criticise Britain’s entry into the E.E.C. “on the basis of “ the present agricultural “ proposals

The fact is that if Britain enters the E.E.C. the existing agricultural programme for the E.E.C. will have to be revised. The present six members of the E.E.C. are about 90 per cent, selfsufficient in food production. Britain is about 50 per cent self-sufficient. If

the E.EC. membership was enlarged to admit only Britain the enlarged E.E.C. would be no more than 80 per cent, self-sufficient In Britain only 5 per cent, of the population is engaged in agriculture, compared with some 25 per cent of the E.E.C. population. A

programme which is appropriate for the E.E.C. as at present constituted is obviously inappropriate for an enlarged E.E.C. in which Britain is likely to be a dominant partner. There is no sign that the United Kingdom Cabinet Ministers dealing with the problem are prepared to sacrifice the interests of their own consumers, of their own farmers, or of the New Zealand farmers, for the sake of those sections of the United Kingdom economy which would benefit from the association. There is, however, every possibility that United Kingdom membership of the E.E.C. would ensure a much more liberal agricultural policy for the E.E.C. than has hitherto seemed likely. The British electorate will expect to be as well fed after the United Kingdom joins the E.E.C. as it is at present. Therein lies the best safeguard of the welfare of the New Zealand dairy farmer and meat producer.