N.Z.-Australia Union Plan

Press, Volume CVII, Issue 31564, 29 December 1967, Page 3

N.Z.-Australia Union Plan

A South Canterbury farmer, Mr R. R. Jordan, of Pleasant Point, hopes to begin a movement which may grow into a campaign for political union between New Zealand and Australia.

After some years thinking about union, Mr Jordan has been encouraged to print a number of circulars setting out points in favour of union, and is waiting to ascertain if the first few receive a favourable public reaction before he sends out the bulk of them. “I have not gone very far. I am waiting to see what happens,” he said last evening. “1 am trying to arouse public interest at this stage and had not got as far as thinking of a campaign. A campaign would depend on the support I received.” The letter reads:—

“The persistent attempts of Britain to attain membership of the Common Market cannot have escaped the attention of any of us. It is more than obvious that her reasons for these efforts are that she is quite certain of the very great benefit to her economy which would result from such a union. “Apart from the attitudes of President de Gaulle, there are manv obstacles to be overcome, not the least being those of currency and language. “I believe that the time has come when it is essential for this country to seek the formation of an economic community with Australia. Bet-

ter still, an out-and-out union. I say that the time is now. “It can be said that the economies of our two countries are reasonably complementary. Our prosperity (like it or not) depends on our primary products of wool, meat and butter.

“Australia has these, plus underground primary products of metals and oil; and of these latter she makes full use. Wool being the international commodity that it is, makes it, at best, an uncertain asset and presently it is indeed in a parlous state. “If and when Britain does enter the Common Market (and she will), butter and meat will lose their present strength on the European markets.

“The late Mr Holt said very recently that he intended to phase out the Australian dairy industry. This would have to mean a terrific potential market for our now major export (butter) and the costs of placing the article of that market (freight, etc.) so much less.

“There would no doubt be disadvantages to New Zealand if we became the eighth State of Australia, but none of any real significance spring readily to mind. On the other hand, a few of the advantages can easily be quoted. The price of Australian cars alone would drop by some hundreds of dollars and no import licences would be required. It would also be most pleasant to find ourselves on Australian rate of tax, both income and estate.

“In conclusion, I contend most strongly that if New Zealand continues to go it alone, we cannot, with the present state of world economics, expect to continue to have the very pleasant standard of living which we have all enjoyed so much for most of the post-war years.”

Mr Jordan said he had thought of union for years and on December 4 had written to the Prime Minister (Mr Holyoake) suggesting that the time was ripe for economic, and perhaps complete, union. New Zealanders have been conditioned to appreciate the advantages to Britain of joining the E.E.C. and this was the time to show them the immense benefits to be gained from joining Australia.

“I got no reply to my letter but on December 15 I read a statement by Mr R. L. Lowndes, a former Gisborne man, who runs an international insurance firm. This encouraged me to carry on and I got this letter printed.”

Mr Lowndes had said the Pacific area needed a stronger political and economic unit now that Britain was pulling out of the area. Mr Jordan had the letter printed in the “Timaru Herald” just before Christmas, but has heard nothing since. “I thought it might stir up a hornets’ nest, but perhaps it was the wrong time.”