“No Ground For Walsh’s Fears”

Press, Volume C, Issue 29524, 27 May 1961, Page 11

“No Ground For Walsh’s Fears”

(M^J'.A.-tieuter— i-apyngnu LONDON. May 26. Britain’s entry into the Euro|>ean Common Market would give her a much better chance of persuading other European countries to adopt a more liberal approach towards imports from the Commonwealth, said the “Guardian” today.

The newspaper said it should be made clear there was no ground for the fears expressed by the president of the New Zealand Federation of Labour, Mr F. P. Walsh, about the prospect of Britain’s entry. “It is quite natural that the New Zealand Laboui movement should be both concerned about the prospect of Britain joining the Common Market and anxious to have assurances that New Zealand’s interests are not being forgotten -If the wish expressed by Mr Nash for a meeting of Commonwealth leaders is shared by other Commonwealth Governments, then certainly such a meeting should be held “At the same time it should be made clear that there is no ground for the fears expressed by Mr Walsh, the president of the New Zea* land Federation of Labour, the Labour Party, and the Trades Union Congress" The “Daily Telegraph' said Britain’s membership of the Common Market would undeniably be a check on British demand for some Commonwealth foodstuffs. “How big it should be and how far it ean be offset by increased Commonwealth exports to the rest of the Common Market will be possibly the two most difficult problems in the negotiations be-

tween Britain and the Six. when they begin. “But these are not insuperable. nor must they be judged by themselves. Against these difficulties must be set the enormous gains . . . which will inject vigour into almost every sector of the British economy

"Without this vigour, neither Britain, nor the Commonwealth. nor agriculture can. in the long run. hope to prosper.” the “Daily Telegrant)” said. The "Daily Express’ said: “Mr Fintan Walsh, president of the New Zealand Federation of Labour, asks: How wit the British worker maintain his living standards in competition with Europeans U Britain goes into Europe at the expense of Empire trade? „ “He urges the Labour Party to try to influence the Government, and to defend the rights of the workers. “Strong words. Wise words. The pity is that it takes a New Zealander to remind the Opposition of its duty to its own people.” The “Scotsman” said it believed that the Common Market ought to be able to give Commonwealth nations assurances that would satisfy them “Safeguards should be sought for those sections which will be most exposed to competition from the Continent,’’ it said.