Japanese envoy in N.Z. for talks

Press, 21 February 1978, Page 10

Japanese envoy in N.Z. for talks

PA Auckland. Japan is unlikely to change her meat-import regulations now nor in the foreseeable future, according to the former Japanese Minister of Agriculture (Mr Zenko Suzuki). Mr Suzuki has arrived ■n Auckland t. begin talks with the Prime Minister (Mr Muldoon), the Minister of Foreign Affairs (Mr Talbovs) and the Minister of Fisheries (Mr Bolger). When asked if there '>a- likely to be any change to the Japanese Government farm import policy he replied: "As far as beef is concerned, the Japanese Government is now undertaking a policy to increase beef consumption amongst the Japanese and we are also aware that we must change our complicated methods of distribution." The Japanese worldwide beef quota was 100.000 tons this year: and depending on New Zealand country could get its fair falfAn fifi npr CF of thf* New Zealand. 4.5 per cent.

Mr Suzuki said it was his personal hope that negotiations could be reopened between New Zealand and Japan on the fisheries question, but he could make no speculation about this subject until he had met Mr Muldoon and other Government people. “It is known in Japan that New Zealand has already conducted negotiations over rights of entry to her fishing waters with South Korea, and that agreement has been reached. It is also known that other negotiations are now underway with other countries for access to these waters,” Mr Suzuki said. In this light, the Japanese could not help wondering why it was that Japan was not being given the opportunity to coi—’uct negotiations herself. “Is it that the Soviet Union and South Korea are more important to New’ Zealand : than Japan?” he said. The Japanese Government regarded the incident involving the Japanese I trawler Tomi Mani 81 as 1 being extremely regret- j table and would from now i on take all care to see j that such incidents did not occur again.

The Tomi Maru was arrested for fishing illegally inside a protected New Zealand fishing ground. Mr Suzuki said he would consider it a very unhappy incident. The Japanese Government could also take appropriate action against the master of the vessel. While Mr Suzuki is no longer a Cabinet Minister, he is a man with appreciable influence within the Japanese Government. He is one of the oldest politicians within the ruling Liberal Democrat Party and has been in the Diet (Japanese Parliament) for 31 years. During that period he has been a Cabinet Minister five times and its president and has held various other important functions. He has with him a letter from the Japanese Prime Minister (Mr Fukuda) for Mr, Muldoon.