N.Z. WOOL STOCKPILE

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31330, 29 March 1967, Page 1

N.Z. WOOL STOCKPILE

Official Report On Soviet Move

(New Zealand Press Association)

WELLINGTON, March 28. The Prime Minister (Mr Holyoake) said tonight there had been “some sort of official approach” from the Soviet Union to buy wool from New Zealand’s stockpile of 300,000 bales.

He told a press conference he had called for a report from the Minister of Overseas Trade (Mr Marshall) on the authenticity of the approach. “There has been some sort of official approach, but I am not certain at what level,” said Mr Holyoake. “It has not come to Cabinet level.” However, Mr Marshall said later tonight: “There has been no practical proposal and it doesn’t look as though there is likely to be.” The Russian Minister to New Zealand (Mr B. Y. Dorofeev) has been reported as saying that Russia would buy more New Zealand wool if New Zealand would buy more products from the Soviet Union. Best Source But Mr Marshall commented: “The Government itself doesn’t have wool for sale. “It is very easy to suggest that we should barter our wool for Russian goods, but the trade in New Zealand is in the hands of private enterprise,” he said. “Private enterprise doesn’t barter for trade, it buys from the best source," said the Minister. The chairman of the Wool Commission (Mr E. L. Greensmith) said tonight his organisation bad received no official approach from the Soviet Union for the purchase of wool. “Very Cheap” He pointed out that if Russia wanted more wool, it could be bought “very cheaply” at wool auctions. Earlier today the First Secretary at the Russian legation,

Mr H. E. Shliapnikov, claimed that the New Zealand Government lacked the desire to trade with the Soviet Union. Commenting that the Soviet Union bought £7,500,000 worth of wool from New Zealand last year, he said: “We would buy more from you if you bought more from us.” Trade Balance Mr Shliapnikov said the trade balance between Russia and New Zealand was flfteen-to-one in New Zealand’s favour with Russia exporting small quantities of tinned crabs and salmon, hunting rifles, watches and machine tools to New Zealand. “We think there is a lack of desire to investigate ways in which we can increase trade,” he said. “Maybe your Government is not so interested in expanding trade with us.” “The Press” Parliamentary reporter commented that New Zealand had never adopted the bipartite system of trade which is followed by several countries, notably those behind the Iron Curtain. Under this system the trading countries discount some of the price in terms of their own products. In past years, Czechoslovakia has made several attempts to purchase New Zealand butter, offering in exchange Czechoslovakian mechanical and electronic equipment. New Zealand has chosen, however, to keep to the unilateral tender system. Asked about this tonight, Mr Holyoake said: “There is nothing to prevent Soviet Russia from trading with us. She is still on a most-favoured-nation basis.”