Co-operation With Aust In Lamb Marketing Suggested

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31318, 14 March 1967, Page 12

Co-operation With Aust In Lamb Marketing Suggested

New Zealand and Australia should work together to develop the market for lamb in North America said Senator R. C. Cotton, of New South Wales. Interviewed on his arrival In Christchurch from Sydney at the week-end, he said there was everything to be said for New Zealand and Australia working together to make the most of their trading opportunities. Senator Cotton had been asked to comment on the trading situation in Canada, where Australian lamb and hogget are consistently priced below those from New Zealand, thus under-cutting the New Zealand product Because Australia and New Zealand were so close to one another geographically, it was in the interests of both economically, to work together in expanding trade in outside markets, he said. Senator Cotton said he had quite a bit to do with the Free Trade Agreement at the Australian end. He described it as both necessary and wise. “But we will have some problems getting it to work,” he said. Spectacular results could not be expected from it, but that there would be a gradual increase in the field of trade. “This is to the advantage of both countries,” he said. “It must work, in our joint interests.” Senator Cotton, who is a former chairman of the Timber Producers’ Council, said that when the agreement was

formed “we invited New Zealand producers over to meet us, and they in turn invited us back. When people get to know one another, things are not so difficult as they seem at first. He said he was not surprised that the latest trade mission from New Zealand got a good reception in Australia, in spite of newspaper predictions to the contrary. Senator Cotton, who has the largest stud flock of Hampshire Down sheep in Australia, now visits New Zealand twice a year. This arises from the formation two years ago, of a joint stud sheep venture with the Elworthy family, of Craigmore, Timaru.

Senator Cotton has shipped several consignments of sheep to New Zealand, the latest in December. He inspects the New Zealand flock in March, just before the ewes are put to the rams, and again in October, after the lambing. He is accompanied by his wife, who manages her husband’s stud sheep flock while he attends the Federal Parliament. Senator Cotton, who is a Liberal representative, was the first Australian parliamentary candidate to poll more than 1 million votes at an election. His vote at the last national election was 1,065,000.