Dane seeks N.Z. trade

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32778, 1 December 1971, Page 20

Dane seeks N.Z. trade

.It would have been a great pity if New Zealand had been “thrown to the wolves” at the talks in Luxemburg on British entry to the Common Market, says the Danish Ambassador to New Zealand (Mr P. A. von der Hude).

Mr von der Hude is making his first visit to Christ-

church since his appointment, last year. It is part of his programme of travelling throughout New Zealand, seeing where improvements might be made in relations between the two countries. Now that Britain seemed certain of joining the Market it was likely that Denmark would also join, he said. His country’s application for membership had for a long time depended on Britain’s movements; half of Denmark’s trade was with Britain and the other half with Europe. Denmark diversifies

Since the last war he said that there had been swift changes in Denmark’s pattern of growth. Whereas the country had once depended on agricultural produce for foreign exchange, this now represented only one-third of such earnings. Mr von de Hude said that there had been a decline and stagnation in dairy production in many European countries and this had led tbe way to the present world shortage. It seemed that in Denmark at least, the shortage of labour and the reduction in herds indicated that there would be no significant increase in butter production.

Referendum likely Mr von der Hude said that if Britain joined the Market as seemed inevitable the Danish Parliament would vote for membership also. The matter would then become the subject of a referendum. There were some who feared that Denmark would lose its sovereignty and independence if it joined, while there were others who thought the same thing would happen if Denmark stayed out. Denmark had now made a name for itself in the produc-

tion of glassware, china and furniture, he said, and any easing of import restrictions into New Zealand would enable people here to buy these. At present New Zealand was selling mainly wool to Denmark, in return for machinery, instruments and pharmaceuticals.