Union With Australia Not On, Says P.M.

Press, Volume CX, Issue 32320, 11 June 1970, Page 18

Union With Australia Not On, Says P.M.

(.V Z PA. Staff Correspondent)

SYDNEY, June 10. New Zealand and Australian ties were strong and growing closer, but political union was just not on, the Prime Minister (Mr Holyoake) said in Sydney today.

He said a partnership at Government level already operated between both countries. “A dual partnership of the kind we have works more effectively than it would through some form of political union.” he told the annual meeting of the institute of directors. Today was the last full day of Mr Holyoake’s week-long visit to Australia. He said he was sometimes asked about closer co-opera-tion with Australia. “My

answer is always the same: ■tell me how we can get any closer and I will work towards it.” There was the closest consultation between the two Governments, and on the senior official level. There was also close contact and co-operation in many fields, including defence, trade, sport and culture. “We're not guiding two separate nations on completely different courses.” he said. “In fact, much of our co-operation is based on the idea of sailing in conyoy.”

There was a danger, however, that where differences of viewpoint did exist they would not come to th-’ surface until it was too late. “But I can recall only relatively few occasions in recent years when it seemed Canberra and Wellington unexpectedly found themselves -at odds,” he said. “This visit has reinforced my belief that Australia and New Zealand understand each other as well as any two partners in international Mr Holyoake said the Tasman partnership had an adult quality. “I believe that, in the field we have to cover, this concept of partnership is the right answer.” he said. Mr Holyoake said there were too many exaggerations about the differences between Australians and New Zealanders. “On one side there is the picture of the aggressive Australian." he said. “On the other there is the picture of New Zealand as a quaint but beautiful backwater, more English than England. “Both labels are a lot of nonsense.” But he said he did not believe Australians and New Zealanders could be regarded as identical people, “here are too many significant, but slight, variations for that,” he said. The Prime Minister said New Zealand was standing on its own feet as a going concern. Plans had been drawn up for future expansion and there were good prospects for growth. Mr Holyoake listed New Zealand successes and achievements in industry and exports, and added: “1 am not speaking with any false sense of patriotism when I say New Zealand is moving into the seventies with growing confidence. “We are proud of our country. There is a rapidly growing awareness of nationhood and there is a dynamic sense of economic development.”