Minister to tour E.E.C. capitals

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33461, 16 February 1974, Page 3

Minister to tour E.E.C. capitals

(.Vew Zcnlaud Pres* Associaliorr)

WELLINGTON. February 1.5. Ihe Minister of Overseas Trade (Mr \\ aiding) would xisit Europe next month, the Prime Minister (Mr kirk) said today. The Minister would he accompanied by the Secretary of I radc and Industry Mr J. P. Lewin).

Mr Maiding would have lime in the capitals of the nine member States of the Common Market for discussions with Ministers and members of the E.E.C. Commission. said Mr Kirk. 1 he visit would provide the first opportunity for a Minister of the present Government to present fully in all the E E C. capitals details of New Zealand's development and trading objectives, and to obtain first-hand impressions of European attitudes to present problems, said Mr Kirk. Specific issues Among the specific issues; Mr Walding will raise will be the special arrangement for New Zealand butter and cheese to enter Britain. E E C. policy on sheepmeats, co-operation with New Zealand's policy of seeking new markets for its dairy products and meat, and the G A T T. multilateral trade negotiations. Although New Zealand was placing increasing emphasis on the development of relations with countries’ in Asia and the Pacific, the enlarged E.E.C. was still the

worlds largest trading unit and New Zealand's biggest export market, said Mr Kirk. New Zealand rhlied on access to Britain for substantial quantities of its butter and cheese to enable it to build up markets elsewhere, and Britain was still by far the biggest market for New Zealand lamb. The E.E.C. was an important supplier to New Zealand of a wide range of machinery and industrial raw materials, he said. Each member State had a say in deciding E.E.C. policies. and it was necessary for New Zealand's point of

view to be made known throughout the Community. This was especially neces-. sary as the 1975 review of, the special arrangement on dairy products drew nearer. Mr Walding visited Lon-, don and Brussels last year. Opposition comment Mr B E. Taiboys, The Opposition spokesman on over-; seas trade, commenting on Mr Walding’s visit, saidj today that the Government was beginning to recognise : the realities of policy and! trade “at last.” Mr Taiboys asked why the Government had been so long in sending a Minister to Europe. “He is deprived of the advantage that would have come from an earlier association. which would have meant that, in this visit, he was renewing friendships and acquaintances.” P.M.’s part “Since the negotiations; are so important in the long term interests of New Zea-; land, I am surprised that the; Prime Minister has not yet; been prepared to lend his; i support. “Why did he not himself I initiate discussions with | heads of Governments as he felt -it necessary to do in |

Asia?” Mr Taiboys asked. “1 am further surprised to learn that the head of the Department Of Trade and Industry is to accompany the Minister rather than an officer experienced in this field.”