Entry To Europe “Still Britain’s Objective”

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30190, 23 July 1963, Page 7

Entry To Europe “Still Britain’s Objective”

(Nm Zealand Preet Association) WELLINGTON, July 22. The veto of the negotiations by the French was not the end of Britain’s European excursion, the Minister of Overseas Trade (Mr Marshall) told the National Party conference today. He said it was still the objective of the British Govern.ment to join the European Economic Community when it could. The alternative Government in Britain had a similar objective and differed only on the conditions of entry.

’ The breakdown of the negotiations has given us a little more time—perhaps three years, perhaps a little longer—to do what we now see clearly is to be done,” be ■aid. However, the trade drive for more markets and more exports, which had been building up from this situation. had other compelling motives. ■The need to earn more overseas exchange by more exporting to pay tor more imports is apparent to us all if we are to be able to continue to improve our standard of living, expand our economic and national development and provide adequately for our steadily-increasmg population.” Mr Marshall said. “We are also aware that the increasing volume of our production, growing as it does, and must, year by year, cannot all be sold in our traditional markets or be consumed by us here in New Zealand.” “Must Export More” Mr Marshall said New Zealand had to export more if we were to continue to live well. The Government was tackling this on two fronts: the drive for increased production, which was given new incentives in the Budget; and the trade drive, which was now under way and gaining momentum and which had as its objective to get more people exporting more goods to more markets.

Mr Marshall said the function of the Government v;as not to trade, but to provide incentives and assistance and facilities to encourage private enterprise to do more and to do better. “The acid test is—are we getting more exports? The answer is yes,” he said. “We are getting more markets and more exporters. ”

He said that in the las: two years New Zealand producers increased the vdlume of their exports—wool by 23 million lb, meat by 50.000 c-w-1., butter by 227.000 cwt . and cheese by 258.000 cwt. "We are also increasing the volume of our exports tof manufactured goods and newsprint is the most striking example,” he said. Exports of lamb doubled to the United States last year. In the last few years a new market for meat —particularly mutton—had been opened in Japan. It was growing rapidly. ‘‘Last year our meat exporters sold 20.000 tons of meat there. This year firm orders for our meat exceed 30,000 tons.” Mr Marshall said that new markets for dairy produce were opening in South-east Asia, the West Indies and Peru. New Zealand meat and dairy produce was being sold in 70 different countries throughout the world. New exporters were venturing into the export trade, even though 95 per cent, of the primary produce trade was done by producer boards and established traders. The new exporters were mainly in

the field of manufactures. “We are perhaps inclined to be too modest about our manufacturing ability,” said Mr Marshall. “I have so often seen evidence of high quality and efficiency and ingenuity that I have no doubt about the ability of our efficient manufacturers to compete in the export field. “This is being proved week by week as I hear of new ventures meeting with success in the markets of the world,” he said. “I do hear of others who have been knocked back, who have found shipping not available. the duties too high, the prices too low, and the overseas competition too well established or perhaps their own product just not good enough,” he said.

“But New Zealanders can hold their own anywhere. We have proved that in war, in sport, in intellectual negotiations, in trade and in primary production. We will prove it beyond all doubt in the exporting of our manufactured goods,” he said.

A New Zealand firm had won the contract for the supply of llj miles of carpet for a big new American hotel in Hong Kong. “Hong Kong is a free port. It has no restrictions and the New Zealand firm won that contract in competition with the carpet-makers of the rest of the world,” said Mr Marshall.