U.K. statement welcomed

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32553, 12 March 1971, Page 3

U.K. statement welcomed

(New Zealand Press Association)

WELLINGTON, March 11.

The Meat Board chairman (Sir John Ormond) has welcomed the statement by the British Government on the need for special safeguards for New Zealand lamb in the E.E.C. negotiations.

Sir John Ormond said today that at times the British Government and the Six had appeared to overlook or play down the lamb issue when, in fact, the outcome was of the greatest importance to New Zeai'and.

It was therefore gratifying to note that Sir Con O’Neill, on behalf of the British Government, had insisted in Brussels at a deputies meeting this week that there should be safeguards for New Zealand lamb as well as for butter and cheese. This was a reiteration of the opening . statement on New Zealand made by Britain at Luxemburg last year. Sir John Ormond said that according to reports from London it was known that

the British were carefully watching any attempt by the E.E.C. to bring in a sheepmeats regulation before entry negotiations were concluded. The French had asked the Common Market Commission to draft such a regulation, and it was believed it could be brought forward in the next few weeks. In his statement, Sir Con O’Neill had also disposed of arguments that New Zealand could develop other markets during the five-year transition period, or diversify to a sufficient extent to cushion any drastic blow, Sir John Ormond said.

Both of these possibilities had been fully explored. They were Just not feasible, he said.