Govt to push for U.K. cheese sales

Press, 21 June 1977, Page 6

Govt to push for U.K. cheese sales

PA Wellington The Government was hoping for a decision on access for New Zealand cheese to the British market next month, the Minister of Overseas Trade (Mr Taiboys* said yesterday.

He said he would argue; as strongly as he could for 1 continued access—due to expire this year—during hisii tour of Common Market i countries from Julv 1 to;! Julv 20. The immediate question facing New Zealand. Mr Taiboys said, was an application for an increase in the Drice it received for its butter. He was reported on a • Radio New Zealand news bulletin yesterdav mominj as| saying New Zealand might: have to accent a cost-based increase of 24 oer cent oro less—a statement which i drew criticism from the i Opposition spokesman onl overseas trade (Mr Freer) ! •‘Telling the world just Ii what New Zealand’s fallback position will be during the; negotiations is not going toj help our case one little bit.”' Mr Freer said. "The Minister is going into perhaps the most crucial | phase of the long fight forsurvival of our European j markets." Mr Freer said. “He I must display coolness and' judgment and not start show-1,

ring his hand a month before 'he gets there." But Mr Taiboys countered [this criticism by saying he had added no more than the Prime Minister (Mr Muldoon) was reported as saying last week. Mr Talboys’s trip will take him to Brussels. Luxemburg, the Hague. Copenhagen. Paris. Dublin and London. He will also discuss pending regulations restricting access for sheepmeats to Common (Market countries. Mr Taiboys leaves New Zealand on the day Mr Mulidoon returns from his overseas trip, but Mr Taiboys I said there would be an oppor- ' tunity for them to confer. | The Dairv Board hopes the (Government can negotiate a deal for a “modest tonnage” (of cheese exports to Britain ; next year to stave off hard'shin in the industry. . The board said yesterday that the country’s cheese pales to Britain were being [cut back faster than it could j find new outlets elsewhere in . the world. ' The board was commenting • on a London statement by Mr

i Muldoon in which he pre- ( dieted that some New ZeaHand cheese factories might (have to close if the British (market was denied to them (after this year. New Zealand’s cheese exports to Britain have dropped (from 69.000 tonnes in>l973 to .(15,000 tonnes this year and (under Protocol 18, governing (Britain’s entry into the Com|mon Market, are due to be (completely cut next year. I Meanwhile the Dairy Board (has managed to boost cheese (exports to countries other (than Britain from 25,000 (tonnes in 1971-72 to 48.000 (tonnes last year. This vear the board will encourage dairy factories to , cut cheese production even further — making a maxi- : mum payout to firms which restrict production to 70 per ( cent of the average production for two of the previous . three seasons. This move is expected to ' hit some dairy companies badly, though the board declined to predict its impact ■ on employment until the sea- • son began.