Holland’s Support For E.E.C.

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29849, 15 June 1962, Page 8

Holland’s Support For E.E.C.

(N.Z. Press Association)

WELLINGTON, June 14. Holland was especially eager for Britain to join the European Economic Community, Mr Frits Philips, head of the Philips Internationa! Organisations, said on his arrival in Wellington today He had not come to tell New Zealand how it should react, he said, but he considered the Common Market was absolutely essentia) for Europe's prosperity. It was the only war Europe could keep ahead in • world trade A split Europe could not compete with the United States. said Mr Philips. Holland was especially keen to see Britain join because. like her, Holland was keen to keep the doors open to the rest of the world. Asked about Commonwealth preferences, he said every country would like to share such preferences; but

New Zealand should realise that many people did appreciate the problem of Britain's ties with the Commonwealth. It -was. of course, difficult to see the effects in the long run; but the production from the soil of both Australia and New Zealand was still much needed and there would always be a market.

“One thing w*e do know is that half the world still goes without food and clothes As their prosperity rises so will their needs and this should heln in the long run." he said The Common Market was making competition hard; but history showed that competition usually enhanced opportunity. It had done so in Holland after the war when first the Germans left the country bare, and then the country lost Indonesia. But now Holland was more prosperous than ever.

New Zealand could also re-

member that there had been many people who had been afraid of the European Economic Community, but they had adapted themselves very quickly. "It wouldn’t be in anybody’; interests to make those adaptations too tough. We understand very well that there are people in this part of the world who have misgivings.

"It is natural to be scared of what you don't know When you are sitting in a comfortable chair you don’t like sitting in a hard one. even if it is good for the health." he said. As for New Zealand selling in Europe, if she could produce good quality goods cheaply she would certainly get a share of the market

“I think in the years ahead the adaptations are not going to be as severe as some think,” Mr Philips said. |