Chile ban 'hurting N.Z. jobs’

Press, 4 January 1978, Page 10

Chile ban 'hurting N.Z. jobs’

PA Wellington ; The utter pointlessness of I the Federation of Labour s I ban on trade with Chile is increasingly oh ivious, says the Minister of Overseas’Trade (Mr Talboys). He was commenting on i reports that the FOL s I secretary, (Mr W. J. Knoxl has restated the federation's ! commitment to the ban. Mr Talboys noted that this ! stand was taken in spite of a recommendation by the Australian trade-union leader (Mr R. J. Hawkel that Australian unions drop their ban. “New Zealand and Australia are alone in the Western world, if not the whole world, in maintaining a ban of this sort,” Mr Talboys I said. “Countries of all shades of political opinion, including Communist Governments, are trading with Chile and reaping benefits from Chile s improving economy.” Mr Talboys said. “Nothing positive can be achieved by maintaining a ban on our trade. We are not helping the cause of freedom in Chile one iota; we are only hurting ourselves, losing needed foreign exchange and jobs for New ! Zealanders.” Mr Talboys said that regardless of the Australian ] decision, the New Zealand 'ban should be removed.