Pacific concept finds favour in Britain

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32588, 23 April 1971, Page 10

Pacific concept finds favour in Britain

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

LONDON, April 22.

The British Foreign Secretary (Sir Alec DouglasHome) had agreed with the New Zealand Labour Party’s view that regional co-operation in the Pacific was a desirable concept, said the Leader of the Opposition (Mr Kirk).

Speaking after a 40-1 minute meeting with Sir Alec Douglas-Home at Whitehall, Mr Kirk said the Foreign Secretary had expressed a keen appreciation of the changing balance of power in the Pacific.

“He was very aware,” said Mr Kirk, “that Britain would be outside such co-operation.

“But he showed considerable interest in the concept I put forward that new initiatives in the Pacific will need to come from within, not from external sources.

“He also agreed that any arrangement would need to be such that Japan felt she

[could play an important I part.” Mr Kirk said he pointed jout that while New Zealand was diversifying her exports, this meant a diversification of imports as well. “I noted that though the New Zealand duty on Japanese cars is 45 per cent and the duty on British cars is 16.7 per cent, Japanese cars can sell competitively in New Zealand, and I’m sure he got the point,” said Mr Kirk. “He accepted the position that if New Zealand sells more of its food outside Britain, the inevitable result will be substantial cuts in British exports to New Zealand.”

On the Common Market negotiations, Mr Kirk said

Sir Alec Douglas-Home had put forward “with some pleasure” the fact that Britain had taken a firm stand in Brussels on the question of New Zealand butter and cheese.

When the question of lamb had come up. Sir Alec Douglas-Home had said he was aware of French pressure on the other five Market members to adopt import rules that would not be in New Zealand’s interests. LABOUR MEETING

Earlier Mr Kirk met a group of pro-Market Labour M.P.s and trade unionists who form the “Labour Committee for Europe,” and he had a long meeting with the Shadow Cabinet spokesman on Home affairs and former Home Secretary, Mr James Callaghan. Of his meeting with the pro-Marketeers, Mr Kirk said: “I was a little disturbed to be questioned about why New Zealand has not diversified its trade, when in fact in the last 10 years we have put considerable effort into this.” Mr Kirk said his talks with Mr Callaghan had dealt entirely with the E.E.C. and had not branched off into other issues.

“I particularly discussed with Mr Callaghan the very far-reaching importance of protectionism in world trade and the need to counter this whether or not Britain goes into the E.E.C.” he said.