E.E.C. ‘Danger To N.Z. Lamb Market’

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 32344, 9 July 1970, Page 28

E.E.C. ‘Danger To N.Z. Lamb Market’

(N.Z.P.A. Stag Correspondent)

LONDON, July 8.

New Zealand’s lamb market in Britain would be hit hard if Britain entered the Common Market, the president of the National Federation of Meat Traders’ Associations, (Mr Charles Catlin) said yesterday.

“Let us not mince words," 1 Mr Catlin told a meeting of i West Country farmers. “It is not difficult to judge what would happen to that mainstay of the English fobd ' table, New Zealand lamb, if 1 we join the Common Market. “We know what happens to it now in the Common Market. In France, New Zealand lamb is banned, but if it were permitted on the same basis as other lamb imports it would carry a tax of 28d per lb. “In Germany it carries a customs duty of 24 per cent and in Italy a duty Of 55 per cent on the c.i.f. value.” Mr Catlin said the housewife would simply refuse to pay the higher prices for lamb that such duties would demand. It appeared, he said, that the Conservatives were aiming to foist increased food prices on the housewife gradually by way of import levies in the hope that the gradual increases would not make her rebel. “Our experience shows that she does' indeed rebel and does not pay the increased price,” he said. “When this occurs it will be a 'tragedy, not only for our trade but also for the local producer, whom the Government says it wants to protect” Mr Catlin said he was pleased that Britain’s Minister for Europe (Mr Barber) had at least mentioned New Zealand in his speech at the . opening of the E.E.C. negotiations. “New Zealand,” said Mr

' Catlin, “has kept this country ’ supplied with excellent quali ity meat at a reasonable ; price for more than 80 years. “I am quite sure that if f the Prime Minister or any- ' one else attempts to interfere . with that arrangement then the housewife is going to , think twice before she votes for him a<rflin ”