Govt ‘out of touch’ with Europe

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33773, 20 February 1975, Page 16

Govt ‘out of touch’ with Europe

f.Vew Zealand Press Association)

WELLINGTON, February 19.

The Government’s claims that it understood the problems of protecting New Zealand’s position within the E.E.C. were now being thrown into serious doubt, said the Acting Leader of the Opposition (Mr Taiboys) today.

The acknowledgement by the Prime Minister (Mr Rowling) that he would have been wiser to have concentrated more on Western Europe dur-

ing his present tour, showed that he had learnt nothing from the 1971 E.E.C. negotiations, Mr Taiboys said.

New Zealanders had now learnt of a major failure in New Zealand diplomacy in the most vital area of trade relations and negotiations with the Common Market. Since 1971, Mr Rowling—as Minister of Finance—had agreed with the run-down of the High Commission in London, said Mr Taiboys. I Even worse was the admission by the High Commissioner-designate, the [Minister of Works (Mr Watt), that the present High Commissioner, Mr T. H. 'MeCoombs. wanted to leave the post almost a year ago.

“In that time the Government should have arranged to strengthen our diplomatic resources at this imoortant negotiating centre,” Mr Talbovs said. “Now. at this eleventh hour. Mr Rowling is summoning the Minister of Overseas Trade (Mr Walding) to London.”

Mr Walding had clearlv not been advising the Prime Minister as closely as he should have been. “He will arrive in Europe as clearly as out of touch with the realities of the situation as the Prime Minister was.” said Mr Taiboys.