Businessman Welcomes Labour Government

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30587, 2 November 1964, Page 1

Businessman Welcomes Labour Government

CNew Zealand Press Association* AUCKLAND, November 1. Britain’s new Labour Government holds promise of a new deal for manufacturers and exporters, said a British businessman, Mr C. F. Barnard, in Auckland at the week-end.

Mr Barnard, vice-chairman and managing-director of Mirrlees National, Ltd., a Hawker-Siddeley subsidiary and Britain’s oldest firm of diesel engine manufacturers, said the new Government had already taken steps to boost overseas trade. “Mr Wilson and his colleagues have shown that they are prepared to grasp the nettle firmly—something that the Conservatives did not do in 13 years,” he said. Exports were Britain’s lifeblood, said Mr Barnard, and a positive Government policy to further overseas trade was long overdue. “New Zealand and Britain are the same in this,” he said. “We both have to ex-

port our products to stay alive.

“I feel we can get much closer together for trade—we both have what the other wants. Now that the risk of Britain joining the Common Market is gone—there were many manufacturers, I must say, who were opposed to Britain joining—we should aim to build up trade links within the Commonwealth.”

Asked how long he thought the Labour Government would last, Mr Barnard said: “I think they’ll go to the

country in about a year. During that time. I cant see them making any attempt at further nationalisation or at putting their disarmament policies into practice. “1 think they will increase the old age pension—that's long overdue—and introduce measures that will appeal to the uncommitted middleincome voters.

“If they are successful, they could be back in a year with a majority of 50 seats—and then I think they could stay in for 20 years.”