Criticism 'A Set Piece’

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 31987, 14 May 1969, Page 22

Criticism 'A Set Piece’

(N.Z. Press Association) WELLINGTON, May 12. There would always be some differences between New Zealand and Britain despite the close understanding and association existing between the two countries, the Prime Minister (Mr Holyoake) said today. Questioned by reporters about recent reports from Britain suggesting a “get tough with New Zealand” approach by the British Government after discussions between the Minister of Customs (Mr Shelton) and the President of the Board of Trade (Lord Brown) the Prime Minister said: “We have a close understanding and association with Britain—there will always be some differences of opinion between us.” According to the reports, Mr Shelton faced a half-hour of strong criticism from Lord Brown last week on the declining percentage of British trade with New Zealand. Asked after today’s meeting of the Cabinet if he saw any significance in this criticism after the resignation of

President de Gaulle, Mr Holy. “This is a set piece—there is nothing new about this. Mr Shelton gave the standard reply by asking the British to take into account the larger question of invisibles.” Mr Shelton, said Mr Holyoake, also emphasised in reply that the British were urging New Zealand to find new markets for its staple primary produce exports and that British manufacturers were being told by their own Government not to take the New Zealand market for granted. Lord Brown was also reported to have raised with Mr Shelton the issue of New Zealand purchases of Boeing rather than British Aircraft Corporation planes as N.A.C. Viscount replacements. According to Mr Shelton, Lord Brown continued to maintain that New Zealand had been wrongly advised in its decision to buy the Boeing. Mr Holyoake said today that when he spoke with the Chancellor of the Exchequer (Mr Jenkins) in London

earlier this year, the Chancellor mentioned the question of aeroplane purchases but said it was now behind both countries. Lord Brown also mentioned the issue to Mr Holyoake but did not emphasise it,