Dairy workers’ head gives view on E.E.C

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32708, 10 September 1971, Page 2

Dairy workers’ head gives view on E.E.C

(From

MICHAEL ROBSON.

N.Z.P.A. staff correspondent)

LONDON, September 9.

The failure of Britain to join the Common Market could have more serious consequences for the New Zealand dairy industry than entry under the terms negotiated in Luxemburg, the national secretary of the New Zealand Dairy Workers’ Union (Mr S. Wheatley) said in London today.

“If Britain joins, I am optimistic that we will get reasonable terms of entry and prices,” said Mr Wheatley. “If she does not go in, then we must face a shrinking market as prices rise and consumption drops.” Mr Wheatley, who has been in Britain for several weeks sounding out opinion over the Common Market after attending a management committee conference of the International Union Of Foodworkers in Glasgow, was the principal speaker at a news conference arranged by the Trades Union Committee for Europe. After talking with trade union officials, workers, and politicians, Mr Wheatley is

of the opinion that British entry is inevitable. “I have no doubt that Britain will join,” he said, “and I think that most people are in favour of it.” Mr Wheatley said that he had noted the position of some Left-wing union leaders opposing entry and that, “as a Socialist of some conviction,” he could not understand their attitude. MAIN IDEAL "Monetary terms should be of secondary consideration in this case,” he said. "Surely international brotherhood and the peace of Europe are more important. Denying a chance to further these ideals, is, to me, denying one of the fundamentals of socialism.” Mr Wheatley said that he had not found any deepseated opposition to joining the Common Market during his travels in England ana, among young people especially, he had found great enthusiasm for the E.E.C.

Asked what he thought of the criticism of the New Zealand terms expressed by the British Leader of the Opposion (Mr Wilson), Mr Wheatley said: ‘.‘New Zealand should not be used as a catalyst to keep Britain out of Europe.” PRICE ARRANGEMENTS Commenting on the Luxemburg agreement as a whole, Mr Wheatley said that the main area of difficulty for New Zealand concerned the pricing arrangements. “These seem to us to be confused and unrealistic,” he said. "As the arrangements stand at present, our prices are linked to years when the E.E.C. itself pursued a dumping policy which affected the whole world dairy market. We think this area requires further negotiation.” Mr Wheatley said there was also concern in New Zealand about our butter in th'e United Kingdom retaining its own label and identity after entry. This, he said,

i would allow it to maintain its traditional reputation for high quality at lower prices. ! STRONG FORCE “We in New Zealand feel , that Britain, as a member of ; the Common Market, will be , a strong and beneficial force : working for reform of the 1 common agricultural policy,” said Mr Wheatley. “This policy has for the last decade been one of the main causes of instability in the i dairy markets'and the world, i and we look- forward to its ' rationalisation in the future.” 1 Mr Wheatley was intros duced at the news conference > by Mr R. Mason, the presi- > dent of the Board of Trade - in the last Labour Government. Z ! The Trade Union Commit- ■ tee for Europe is affiliated ! with the European move- ! ment, which promotes British ’ entry t 0 the EE - C -