New Zealand’s fish threat two-edged

Press, 27 August 1977, Page 6

New Zealand’s fish threat two-edged

NZPA Staff correspondent London The principle of New Zealand’s trading ultimatum to the Japanese over fishing rights should hate been used by the British Government against New Zealand, a leading figure in the British food industry said yesterday. The secretary-general of Food and Drink Industries Council. (Mr T. Fortescue) said that when Britain two years ago renegotiated its entry terms with the Common Market, it should have said: “for something in return.” “Given the Community’s milk surplus, the Council of Ministers might lerhaps be prepared to concede to us an exclusive zone, in return for our not insisting that the Community should allow imports of New Zealand cheese on oreferential

terms after the end of 1980.”

He said that in the light of the ultimatum to Japan, “it would seem that New Zealand could have no objection in principle to “such an arrangement.”

New Zealand cheese imports to Britain are due to stop at the end of the year, but the European Commission — the E.E.C.’s chief executive body — is expected to make a recommendation of continued access for about 10,000 tonnes in October. New Zealand's butter quotas are fixed until 1980, when 115,000 tonnes will be allowed in, but negotiations for annual sendings beyond then are expected to start next year.

“When those negotiations start,” Mr Fortescue said, “there will be immense pressure on the British Government — from us and others — to phase New Zealand out completely.

"The question of continued New Zealand access, when we have much more

than enough dairy products ourselves, will be a burning issue during the next General Election campaign too.”

Mr Fortescue's Food and Drink Industries Council represents all the major British food trade organisations, including the power ful Dairy Trades Federation which is implacably opposed to New Zealand butter and cheese being available here at competitive prices. It also speaks for Britain’s fish processors — hence Mr Fortescue’s interest in the 80km zone. Neither Mr Fortescue nor his council was against the huge and profitable New Zealand lamb trade with the E.E.C.

“New Zealand lamb will have a huge market here for as long as anyone :an see,” he said. “And we won’t object.”

Mr Fortescue, a Conservative Party member of Parliament for eight years until the first 1974 General Election, said he is not anti-New Zealand — just anti New Zealand butter and cheese.

“In fact, I have even lived in New Zealand — in Gisborne — and enjoyed it very much,” he said.

He was a prisoner of the Japanese during World War II and spent six months in New Zealand in 1945-46. recovering.