Progress Declared In Comalco Talks

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31676, 11 May 1968, Page 14

Progress Declared In Comalco Talks

(New Zealand Press Association} WELLINGTON, May 10. Progress has been made during the eight days of talks between Government officials and representatives of Comalco and the Japanese companies Showa Denko K.K. and Sumitomo Chemicals, Ltd.

But tonight officials declined to be specific.

grossed to the point of greater understanding. “Naturally, we have not talked for eight days without coming closer together on some points,” he said. "In actual fact there have not been eight complete days of talks; there have been periods when we have spent time reviewing progress or a particular position.’' Asked when he expected the talks to finish, Mr Mori-

arty interjaetad: "Soma time thia yaar.'V :;: When asked If the Government team .had been given all the information It had sought Mr Davis indicated that it had, though Mf Morlarty said; "We cant ten you that." However, Mr Davis said the Government considered the whole Bluff smelter proposition as a single -proposal. Single issues such as taxation concessions were indivisible from other matters—which he declined to name. Mr Borrie made it clear that the discussions had dealt only with the smelter that involved the Japanese companies, and he went to some trouble to emphasise that the talks had made progress. The talks will continue on Monday.

The Secretary of the Treasury (Mr N. R. Davis), the Secretary of Industries and Commerce (Mr J. Moriarty) and Comalco’s legal manager (Mr I. F. Borrie) held a press conference after the talks had concluded for the day. Mr Davis, leading the New Zealand party, would go no further than: “We have pro-