P.M. criticises N.A.F.T.A. delay

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 32945, 17 June 1972, Page 16

P.M. criticises N.A.F.T.A. delay

(New Zealand Press Association) MELBOURNE, June 16. New Zealand was concerned about the delay in fulfilling an undertaking by Australia to secure New Zealand’s position in the Australian market for newsprint, said the Prime Minister (Mr Marshall) today.

Mr Marshall, in a luncheon i address to members of the i Victorian Chamber of Manu- ’ facturers and the Melbourne i Chamber of Commerce, said 1 that the delay was a serious i impediment to the develop- i ment of the New Zealand- ' Australia Free Trade Agreement. It was understandable that Australians, particularly Australian newspapers, should be concerned about the price at which they would buy New Zealand newsprint. “They will want to .get it as cheaply as possible and they are naturally influenced by the fact that other suppliers whose principal and massive market is on another continent can at times off-load their surpluses on the Australian market at uneconomic prices,” said Mr Marshall. This would not happen if New Zealand supplies were . not available to be undercut. 'Tn the long term it is to j our natural advantage to have ' a secure and reliable supply J of newsprint at fair and rea- , sonable prices. K is essential < for us to hold a major share j of the Australian market for ( newsprint if our industry is - to remain healthy. 1 “This has been one of the < mainsprings of our N-A.F.T.A. < policy from the very beginning and major investment 1 decisions have been made by 1 our industry on this basis,” < Mr Marshall said. "We need to sell our news- ’ print at a fair market price— 1 and that is all we are ask- . ing.” J Mr Marshall said there was j

already substantial agreement at Government level and he was hopeful that the commercial interests would soon be able to reach agreement at the trading level and so settle this outstanding issue.