FRIENDSHIP WITH SOUTH-EAST ASIA

Press, Volume CVII, Issue 31379, 26 May 1967, Page 3

FRIENDSHIP WITH SOUTH-EAST ASIA

Mr Kirk Urges Firmer Extension Of Interest I (New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, May 25. The Leader of the Opposition (Mr Kirk) today urged that New Zealand establish treaties of friendship, mutual assistance and common interests with nations of South-east Asia.

Mr Kirk—speaking in Wellington at a luncheon meeting of the Chartered Institute of Secretaries —said New Zealand must seize the initiative in providing for its own external economic development, and simultaneously for its own security.

“We must turn our minds away from existing treaties in the realm of trade and defence, towards new treaties established on a bilateral basis,” he stated.

The aim of the treaties would be to promote political stability, economic growth, and trade.

For New Zealand’s part, entry into markets could be established on a basis from which useful trading habits could grow, Mr Kirk suggested. For the other part, there was both a measure of economic assistance and the fostering of economic growth. Mr Kirk said that under such arrangements New Zealand could increase the level of assistance to developing countries without necessarily substantially increasing the call on her overseas exchange. Best Price For example, it would be possible in the interests of promoting trade and development to sell commodities under such an agreement at the best price the other partner country could afford to pay. Although this could be substantially below the amount that might be realised in an affluent market, the deficiency could be made good by a payment in New Zealand currency to this country’s producers.

“This means that we would regard our contribution in aid not only as a measure of the cost of a rightful obligation but also as an investment in the development of New Zealand trade in new markets,” he explained.