No move yet by Labour leader

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32587, 22 April 1971, Page 2

No move yet by Labour leader

(N.Z.P.A. Staff Correspondent) LONDON, April 20. Separate meetings for Sir Keith Holyoake and Mr Kirk with the British Leader of the Opposition yesterday brought no statement of any swing by Mr Wilson against Common Market entry.

In many quarters, Mr Wilson’s action is regarded as central to any British entry bid.

The British Prime Minister (Mr Heath) has said he must have a substantial majority of Parliament behind him before he goes into Europe, and with several members of his own party opposed to entry, he probably needs the support of Mr Wilson and the Labour Party to ' command his substantia) majority. At yesterday’s meetings, Mr Wilson apparently convinced both Sir Keith Holyoake and Mr Kirk that Britain’s Labour Party remains committed to seeking a just arrangement for New Zealand in any deal done with the E.E.C. As before, Mr Wilson did hot spell out exactly what fie would regard as a “satisfactory” deal for New Zealand- But he told Mr Kirk that a short-term phasing-out of New Zealand trade would not meet his definition of satisfactory, and that the term meant to him at least the maintaining of the present volume of trade. Both New Zealanders reported Mr Wilson to be well aware of the facts of the New Zealand case. Both said the former Prime Ministei would devote to New Zealand an important portion of a speech he will be making soon about the negotiations. Sir Keith Holyoake said: "He talked to me very frankly, and it would be wrong for me to betray his confidences. Mv talks with him were very timely, and I was able to bring him comoletely up-to-date on our luestion.”

Increasing opposition in he Labour Party to Market :ntry has been reported, and it has been suggested that Mr Wilson will be forced to come out against enlargement for political reasons. He has not gone beyond saying he will nave to wait to see what terms are negotiated in Brussels before taking a stand. This, however, could merely be a face-saving device, as too abrupt a move could leave him open to charges of political opportunism. Asked if he saw any prospect of Mr Wilson’s taking an anti-market stance in the near future, Mr Kirk said: “Mi Wilson concurred very definitely with my view that at grass roots level the feeling is very strongly against joining the Market However, Mr Wilson did not present

any anti-Market feelings to me, and his stand is the same as before, which is that a special conference of the Labour Party will be called when the terms of any proposed entry are made known.”

Mr Kirk said Mr Wilson’s impression was that this stage would be reached in October or later, if it was to be reached at all.

“The important impression 1 gained is that the British Labour Party will not stand for any sell-out on New Zealand,” Mr Kirk said.

The Labour leader said Mr Wilson had promised that a British Labour Government would review the Consetva-

tive Party’s new levies on imported food. He added that as a result of his talks, he remained convinced that the levies would bring a reduced return to New Zealand lamb producers. “It’s said lamb is underpriced here, and that the return * to New Zealand growert will increase when the price of lamb goes up as a result of the levies,” Mr Kirk said.

“Well, I just don’t believe it. The price of lamb will go up all right, but the New Zealand producer will be getting less because he will be paying at least part of the levy.”