Trade mission welcomed

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32663, 20 July 1971, Page 14

Trade mission welcomed

The composition of the proposed trade mission to China should be determined on the basis of what might best serve the interests of New Zealand, the Leader of the Opposition (Mr Kirk) said last evening.

Welcoming the announcement by the Prime Minister (Sir Keith Holyoake) that a mission would be sought through an .ntennediary, Mr Kirk said that he had been convinced by what he had seen and heard on his recent overseas trip that New Zealand would have to work harder than ever to develop every avenue of trade. “I spoke to this effect at the Labour Party conference and subsequently confirmed that the party thought the Government should endeavour to organise a mission to pave the way for the development of trade with China,” he said. “I said then that if the Government did not organise such a mission the Labour Party would endeavor to do so. A letter to this ffect was sent to the Prime Minister

late in May, and I’m pleased that it now appears that some action is developing.”

Mr Kirk said New Zealand should not run the risk of “missing the bus” as far as developing any avenue of trade was concerned.

“The importance of the application is perhaps best emphasised by the priority China places on supplies of wheat from Australia—a de cision which has raised doubts for Australian wheat exports,” he said. “The function of this mission is to explore and, I hope, to lav the ground for others which may develop our trade with China.” Whatever Britain decided about entry into Etirope, New Zealand had to face the fact that she had a very low growth rate and that pre-

serving—let alone increasing —living standards depended on a more vigorous expansion of trade, said Mr Kirk. Even if Britain did not join the E.E.C. this was still necessary. Britain’s entry only brought home the need for it to be done more urgently.