N.Z. access advocated

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33456, 11 February 1974, Page 1

N.Z. access advocated

(From DAVID BARBER. N.Z.P.A. staff correspondent)

LONDON, February 8. ’ The Labour Party pledged today to try to restore New Zealand’s’ 1 “historical access” fori agricultural exports to < the British market 1 should it win this, month’s General Elec- . tion. i ( The pledge came when the 1 party chairman (Mr James s Callaghan) fired the first shots in Britain’s shortest t election campaign in 40 < years. s Presenting Labour’s mani-it festo at a press conference’s in London. Mr Callaghan de-| nounced the Common Mar-jt

ket, and particularly its lagricultural policy, and reaffirmed a Labour Govern[ment’s intention to renegotiate the terms of (entry. I Labour had two objects in [this, he said. One was “toj ‘ensure prices do not go up any more than they need.” ■ Of the other, he said: “Wej will try to restore once[ again the historical access ( agricultural countries such as! Canada, Australia, New Zea-j land, and the United States always had in our market." There was no doubt that the E.E.C.’s common agricultural policy had been designed to protect European agriculture, Mr Callaghan said. Under the terms of entry! to-the E.E.C. negotiated by;

s|Mr Edward Heath’s Con- - servative Government, New -Zealand was given a -[guaranteed, but reducing, f(quota for butter and cheese [shipments to- Britain until lithe end of 1977. The butter i[ situation is subject to review > | next year, but there are no (guarantees for cheese imj(ports after 1977. New Zealand lamb exports s [to Britain were subject to an ; ;8 per cent ad valorem duty ■I from January 1. The E.E.C. > Commission proposes an over-all sheepmeats policy : which could impose further ■ restrictions. A New Zealand Cabinet' 1 Minister — probably the Minister of Overseas ’ Trade' I (Mr Walding) — is expected to visit E.E.C. countries soon jto sound out attitudes to next;

i-iyear’s review of New Zeavland’s position. a Labour’s election manifesto ;, said that the next Labour e| Government would seek 11 “major changes” in the r I E.E.C.’s common agricultural ? i policy so that low-cost pro3(duCers outside Europe could .(continue to have access to ’(the Britisji market. It said: “The economic s(interests of the Common- i i[wealth and the developing) ?! countries must be better .[safeguarded.” *l The. manifesto said that if ((renegotiations were success•jful, the result would be put [to the British people through :la General Election or a : referendum. If negotiations; “did not succeed, voters would; I be asked whether Britain; i should withdraw from the! ;i Common Market. I