U.K. Trade Mission

Press, Volume CX, Issue 32395, 7 September 1970, Page 14

U.K. Trade Mission

(N.Z Press Association)

AUCKLAND, Sept. 6.

A member of a visiting trade mission said tonight that he did not think Britain would enter the Common Market wthout due regard being taken of the position of New Zealand.

Major E. G. Harris, secretary of the Portsmouth Chamber of Commerce, is with a mission representing 15 firms ranging from London to the Isle of Wight, which arrived in Auckland today to sell its wares in New Zea land.

Mr Harris said he did not think that if Britain joined

the Common Market it would mean the end of trade missions, such as the one at present held by the Portsmouth Chamber of Commerce, to New Zealand. The chamber had had missions to the United States, Canada, Scandinavian and European Free Trade Area countries.

The mission felt New Zealand was a market they had neglected and believed the varied range of products catered for by delegation members would be of inter est “We believe that a single mission is of no value at all. There must be a follow-up and that follow-up should be between 12 to 18 months after the first visit. “Of course, individual com-

panies are likely to make follow-ups within much shorter periods,” he said. A late addition to the trade misison was British Hovermarine, Ltd, makers of hovercraft. A representative of the company tonight declined to say whether he was here with a specific sale in mind oi whether he was here specu lative'He ,u»d that he would make a statement on Wednesday.

It is the first mission the chamber has mounted to New Zealand. The products being offered include cosmetics, moulding machines, control, effluent treatment, grass cutting, industrial heating, ventilating mixing and brushmaking equipment. It also includes companies specialising in boat building, export packing and plant hire.