Meeting Will Discuss Tasman Free Trade

Press, Volume CVII, Issue 31498, 12 October 1967, Page 24

Meeting Will Discuss Tasman Free Trade

(New Zealand Press Association)

WELLINGTON, October 11. . , The New Zealand and Australian Governments, along with ttie manufacturers of both countries, will meet within the next six weeks to help make the free trade agreement work. The time and place have not been settled.

The Incoming president of the New Zealand Manufacturers’ Federation (Mr R. G. Speirs, of Invercargill) told the Prime Minister (Mr Holyoake) at the federation’s conference today that the federation had serious reservations about the long-term effects of the free trade agreement but had spared no effort to make it work.

“A most disappointing feature has been that the imbalance in trade between Australia and New Zealand has continued to grow, because Australian exports to New Zealand have increased faster than our exports to Australia. Australian Policy ‘‘One of the reasons for this is the emphasis which Australians give to the national policy of protection of their industries. “Our federation believes that conditions in which our exports to Australia can grow more rapidly must be provided both in New Zealand and also in Australia. Mr Speirs assured Mr Holyoake of the federation’s

strongest support for the Prime Minister’s statement made in . Australia on the free trade agreement.