Hopes For Butter Sales To Canada

Press, Volume C, Issue 29702, 21 December 1961, Page 8

Hopes For Butter Sales To Canada

(W .Z.P.A.-Reuter—Copyright) OTTAWA, December 20. New Zealand’s Deputy Prime Minister (Mr Marshall) expressed guarded hope today that Canada would open its doors to imports of New Zealand butter.

He told a press conference that New Zealand hoped for “changed policies by Canada which could lead to greater consumption here. In the future we may be able to do some trade in butter.” he said. Mr Marshall said it was not the function of a New Zealand Cabinet Minister to tell Canadian leaders what to do. “But I will certainly point out our problems, and the problems that arise from the disposal of surpluses internationally,” he said. Mr Marshall arrived in Ottawa yesterday for two days of talks with Canadian leaders. He said his country was “most interested” in developing the Canadian market for New Zealand mutton. He was reasonably hooeful that exoansion could be achieved. Todav Mr Marshall conferred ’ with the Canadian Prime Minister (Mr Diefenbaker) about Commonwealth trade problems which could result from British membership in the European Common Market. Mr Diefenbaker did not give details of the talk but ‘old reporters that he and Mr Marshall reviewed the economic conditions of their two countries and the general position of their agricultural trade. _ Mr Marshall said New Zealand had had to “press” for some information from Britain, and had kept in close consultation with London. “At this stage we are satisfied 'with the way negotiations have been carried on,” he said.

Asked whether New Zealand expected to be informed on everything said in formal negotiations between Britain and the Common Market, he replied: “No, but we will expect to be consulted on everything concerning New Zealand, and we have no reason to say that hasn’t been done up to the present time.” Replying to reporters who tried to pin him dowm on just how hopeful he was that New Zealand's interests would be safeguarded Mr Marshall said: “We have put our trust in Britain and are keening nur powder dry.” The Canadian Press reported that Mr Marshall's hopes of selling butter to Canada would involve a change of policy for Canada, which supported butter prices and had huge stocks of the food on hand. New Zealand officials in the past had expressed the hope *hc* Canada would lower or

eliminate the butter support price, thereby encouraging greater domestic consumption. That in turn might lead to elimination of the butter surplus and abolition of the import curbs.