Mr Kirk to have talks on E.E.C.

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32562, 23 March 1971, Page 14

Mr Kirk to have talks on E.E.C.

(New Zealand Press Association) AUCKLAND, March 22. The Leader of the Opposition (Mr Kirk) will fly to London soon for talks with British Labour leaders and others on British negotiations to enter the European Economic Community.

Mr Kirk confirmed in Auckland today that he would also visit several European capitals, including Bonn, Brussels and Paris. He expects to be away for at least three weeks and, although no departure date has yet been fixed, will probably leave in mid-April. After discussions with the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Overseas Trade (Mr Marshall) Mr Kirk has accepted a Government offer to facilitate arrangements for him to meet Cabinet Ministers in Britain and other capitals.

Mr Kirk said today: “I have written to the British Leader of the Opposition (Mr Wilson) and his party, accepting their recent invitation to go to Britain to discuss questions arising from the British application to join the Common Market, trade, and other matters of mutual interest.

“In view of the importance to New Zealand of preserving the right to trade freely in agricultural products, I am

convinced , that the invitation must be accepted. Such discussions can only be advantageous to New Zealand’s interests, particularly since the position of our farming industry has changed radically during the period in which British entry has been under consideration.” When the question of British membership of the E.E.C. first arose, said Mr Kirk, New Zealand—and its farming industry—was in prosperous condition. That was no longer so, but the situation was not as well understood overseas as it should be. Asked where the New Zealand Labour Party stood on the E.E.C. issue, Mr Kirk said: “What we have done is to refrain from commenting on whether Britain should go in or not.

“Our attitude is simply that if, for domestic political reasons in Britain or for Continental reactions, Britain is not to enter the E.E.C;, New Zealand would have no occasion to sit back with a sigh of relief. “This country would still be confronted with a threat to its markets—this time by levies on food imports. In some ways, the planned levies on food imports are as menacing, or more so, as the dangers of British entry into the E.E.C. We have no assurances whatever, so far as they are concerned.”