EARLIER TRIP LIKELY

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31362, 6 May 1967, Page 1

EARLIER TRIP LIKELY

(N.Z. Press Association) WELLINGTON, May 5. The Deputy Prime Minister (Mr Marshall) will probably fly to London for urgent consultations with the British Government on the Common Market problem earlier than was first thought. “I may go earlier now In view of the speed at which things are moving,” said Mr Marshall tonight. He could not say exactly when he expected to make the trip. Mr Marshall was commenting on a London report that he was likely to begin talks in London within eight weeks. The Press Association’s special correspondent in London said that, according to informed sources, the British Government was prepared to meet any requirements New Zealand had for Common Market consultations over the next two months.

The timing of these talks at official or ministerial level, or both, was up to New Zealand, but the prime importance of the New Zealand “problem” suggested they should begin as soon as possible.

“We fully expect New Zealand to be first in the queue, among Commonwealth countries anxious for consultations,” the sources said. It was up to New Zealand to initiate the type and content of the consultations. Statements both by the Prime Minister (Mr Holyoake) and the Minister of Overseas Trade (Mr Marshall) on Common Market developments were featured widely in British newspapers yesterday. Considerable emphasis was

placed on the reported comment by Mr Marshall, in particular, that he would be bringing “unorthodox” proposals to London to safeguard his country’s interests. The “Financial Times” yesterday printed a table showing the dependence of New Zealand upon its exports of mutton, lamb, butter, and Cheese to the British market. “The Times,” in the course of an editorial titled “Butter, Sugar and E.E.C.,” said “New Zealand cannot be sacrificed

as the price of British entry.” In the “Daily Express,” a correspondent wrote that British ministers agreed with Mr Marshall that a permanent agreement would have to be negotiated for New Zealand’s meat and dairy products, and it was hoped the Six would see it that way, too. In an editorial, the “Daily Express” said that the statement by the Ministry of Agriculture on the effects of Britain joining the Common Market was a formidable indict-

ment Which spelt out the Government’s folly. The Ministry showed that food prices would be up, farmers’ income down, taxpayers would face a huge bill for subsidies, the housewife, the farmer and the taxpayer would lose.

“Yet next week most of our 600 M.P.s will vote for entry,” said the “Daily Express”, just like another 600.... “Theirs not to reason ■why, “Theirs but to do or die.”