Talks Likely To Be Revived

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30667, 5 February 1965, Page 3

Talks Likely To Be Revived

(New Zealand Press Association)

WELLINGTON, February 4.

Discussions at the level of officials on prospects for a limited free trade system between Australia and New Zealand were likely to be revived, the Minister of Overseas Trade (Mr Marshall) said in an interview tonight.

He said there would be matters which would probably have to be discussed at official level before a meeting between himself and the Australian Minister of Trade (Mr McEwen) was possible. Mr Marshall said he had no comment to make on the statement by a senior research officer of the New Zealand Institute of Economic Research, Mr P. G. Elkan, that free trade between Australian and New Zealand would halve manufacturing in the North Island and South Island manufacturing would be cut by one-third.

Mr Marshall said the Governmeqt was consulting with manufacturers likely to be affected by any Tasman freetrade area. “Great Deal”

“There is a great deal of consultation to do,” he said. He could not indicate a date when discussions on an official level might resume or when he was likely to meet Mr McEwen.

A joint Australia-New Zealand officials’ committee on the question was set up in

1963. In a period of 12 months it met six times—in Wellington and Canberra. Its report was completed and handed to the two Governments in April last year.