PACIFIC LEADERS CRITICISE TESTS

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32678, 6 August 1971, Page 2

PACIFIC LEADERS CRITICISE TESTS

(New Zealand Press Association)

WELLINGTON, August 5.

South Pacific leaders today criticised the continued testing of nuclear weapons in the islands of French Polynesia. Their protest will be sent to the French Government by the New Zealand Embassy in Paris.

The leaders passed a resolution at the South Pacific forum, which opened in Parliament Buildings today, expressing “deep regret” that the atmospheric tests continued, despite the partial test-ban treaty and the protests repeatedly made by Pacific countries. A statement issued after the meeting said that the

heads of State expressed their concern about the potential hazards that atmospheric tests posed to health, safety and marine life (a vital element in island subsistence and economy), and addressed an urgent appeal to the Government of France to make the present test series the last. The forum is the first of its kind, and was suggested by . the Islands leaders, who invited New Zealand to be host of the conference, and asked Australia to be present. Those attending are the Premier of the Cook Islands (Mr Albert Henry), the President of Nauru (Mr Hammer Deroburt), and the Prime Ministers of Fiji (Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara), Tonga (Prince Tu’ipelehake), and i Western Samoa (Tupua . Tamasese Lealofi IV). Aus- ; tralia is represented by the Minister for External Terri- ! tones (Mr C. E. Barnes). i The Prime Minister (Sir Keith Holyoake) was chair--1 man of the opening session, and Western Samoa’s Prime Minister presided this afternoon.

Discussions covered trade, shipping, civil aviation, and foreign investment, including tourism. z The conference decided

that New Zealand should take the initiative in organising a conference of officials who will survey trading opportunities between the Pacific communities, Australia, and New Zealand. Informed sources said this afternoon that there was some talk about Australia and New Zealand giving tariff preferences to the Islands for certain goods. Australia and New Zealand were reported to have agreed to look at this. The leaders also discussed the formation of an Islands shipping line, but did not get down to detail. The discussion was initiated by a paper from the Tongan Government.

Further consideration of this will be deferred until the officials hold their meeting on trade in about three months.

In the discussion on foreign investment and tourism, Australia, New Zealand, and Fiji spoke. They agreed that incentives were necessary to attract foreign investment, but that it was also important that local equity play a significant part. This discussion will continue tomorrow afternoon. Tomorrow morning the leaders will have a private meeting, without Australia and New Zealand.