IMPRESSED BY N.Z. INDUSTRIES

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30827, 12 August 1965, Page 5

IMPRESSED BY N.Z. INDUSTRIES

(New Zealand Press Association)

WELLINGTON, August 11.

On his tour of New Zealand industries he had been impressed by the capacity and' versatility of the firms he had visited, said the Australian Minister of Supply (Mr A. Fairhall) today.

He said many of them could take any job on and make a really good job of it. Some of the firms he had visited were using production methods in advance of any in Australia, he said. He said he had been mainly concerned with fostering industrial co-operation between Australia and New Zealand in defence supplies. Procedures had been established for communicating to New Zealand industry details of Australian defence requirements. The New Zealand High Commissioner in Australia would notify New Zealand industry of the calling of tenders for equipment that might be met from New Zealand sources. A list of period contracts had also been issued to the New Zealand Government that industries here might be interested in tendering for, he said. The contracts were mainly for items of which the Australian forces needed a continuous supply, such as clothing, footwear and even food. The results of his present visit hinged on the free trade talks being held in Canberra. If some of the industries in the defence supply sphere were within a potential free trade area, then it was possible some joint arrangements could be promoted. He said two factors would limit what New Zealand could do. They were industrial capacity and the tariff barriers.

Another suggestion he had put forward involved New Zealand sending one or two industrial leaders to attend the next meeting of the chairmen of the Industrial Advisory Committees in Australia. These committees advised the government on the preparation and organisation of supplies for Australia’s defence, he said. Defence Talks Mr Fairhall saiid the highlight of his visit had been the very useful exploratory talks he had had with the Minister of Defence (Mr Eyre) and defence chiefs in Wellington yesterday. He said they had discussed the military problems that faced both countries. He had also told them of an Australian proposal to build a jet trainer which could interest the New Zealand Government. Mr Fairhall said' that if New Zealand bought the jet trainer and Australia produced the French Mirage jet fighter all spare parts and supplementary equipment could be supplied from Australia. Even if New Zealand decided to buy the fighters from France, Australia would still be able to supply spares. The Australian and French prices for the fighters would be competitive, he said. He declined to comment on which would be more suited to New Zealand needs, the Mirage or the American Fill jet fighter. He said Australia used both fighters in entirely, different military roles.