British M.P. Gives N.Z. Assurance

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29908, 23 August 1962, Page 15

British M.P. Gives N.Z. Assurance

WELLINGTON, Aug. 22. One of a group of Conservative M.P.’s “who tend to be opposed to Britain's entry to the European Economic Community," Mr Peter Walker, arrived in Wellington tonight by air from Sydney.

“Britain will suffer no disadvantage if she does go into the Common Market," said Mr Walker.

"Europe has traditionally exported more to both Britain and the Commonwealth than er her Britain or the Commonwealth have exported to Europe. "Last year the United Kingdom imported £675 million worth of goods from Europe to which she sent £6OO million worth in return. The Commonwealth took £ 1300 million of imports from Europe and sent back £ll5O million worth of exports.

"This puts Britain and the Commonwealth in a very strong position," said Mr Walker. “It would enable the making of a strong trade pact in the event of our not joining. The European Economic Community cannot begin a tariff war with Britain without hurting her own interests.” Mr Walker was definite in his view that Britain would not join the Common Market if it meant hurting the Commonwealth. “Unless France gives way

(New Zealand Press Association)

on the question of New Zealand meat and dairy produce entering Britain as they do now,” he said, “I don’t think that the Prime Minister (Mr Macmillan) will recommend to Parhament that we enter the E.E.C.” He said he did not believe —as some Australians had suggested to him—-that Mr Macmillan was “selling the Commonwealth down the Rhine.”

He said he was sure that whatever Mr Macmillan recommended he would sincerely believe it to be in the interests of the Commonwealth.

“As an opponent of Mr Macmillan I say that he won’t go in if he thinks the conditions of entry are not tolerable for New Zealand, although he might join if he sincerely believes joining would be in New Zealand’s long-term interests.”