Conditions Better For E.E.C. Entry

Press, Volume CV, Issue 31018, 25 March 1966, Page 1

Conditions Better For E.E.C. Entry

(New Zealand Press Association? WELLINGTON, March 24. The Government will take all necessary steps to ensure New Zealand interests are fully represented, should negotiations be renewed between Britain and the European Economic Community.

“It is evident that a much more favourable climate now exists for a close association between Britain and the European Economic Community, than was the case some years ago,” said the Prime Minister (Mr Holyoake).

Mr Holyoake was commenting on recent statements made in the course of the British General Election campaign and by representatives of several European countries welcoming the prospect of British membership.

"However, it is by no means clear that negotiations between Britain and the Common Market countries will be resumed in the near future,” Mr Holyoake said.

"Nor is it clear what form an association could take or what safeguards the British would press for.” The Prime Minister said it was too early to assess how New Zealand’s trading re-

lationship with Britain might be affected. He recalled the position reached in the Brussels negotiations in January, 1963. Although at that time New Zealands’ special problems had been recognised by the participants, no precise solution safeguarding New Zealand's vital interests had emerged. Since then the Government, with the full co-operation of industry, had made strenuous efforts to diversify New Zealand’s export trade, said Mr Holyoake. Small Markets A good measure of success has been achieved in finding new markets. Inevitably, however, these were small, particularly for lamb, butterand cheese. The Prime Minister said it

would take many years to develop them to a point where they would account for a significant proportion of New Zealand’s exports. In the meantime, Mr Holyoake said New Zealand’s trading relationship with Britain was still as important today as it was in 1963. This meant that the agricultural policy finally adopted by the Common Market and the extent to which Britain’s own agricultural policy was brought into conformity with it, would be of profound importance to New Zealand especially if this country’s interests were not adequately protected. “New Zealand’s trade relations with the United Kingdom are at present under review,” said the Prime Minister. More Talks “Talks at official level were held last year in London on rights of access for New Zealand dairy produce and meat to the British market, and these will be resumed after the British General Election. Mr Holyoake said continuing recognition had been given to New Zealand’s trade problems by the British and European governments and in international forums, such as G.A.T.T. “The Government appreciates that a changing world requires flexibility in policy and action,” he said. “For broad political reasons it has always welcomed moves towards integration in Europe. But New Zealand has special interests which it has a right to see safeguarded and should negotiations be renewed between Britain and Europe the Government will take all necessary steps to ensure that New Zealand interests are fully represented.”