Campaign in E.E.C.

Press, 12 April 1978, Page 11

Campaign in E.E.C.

PA Wellington The Government will begin an intensive publicity campaign in Britain and other Common Market countries. aimed at making the Community more aware of New Zealand’s case-for con-

Jtinued access for its primary 1 exports. The Minister of Overseas I Trade (Mr Taiboys), announcing details of the cam- ' paign said that the : I Community was entering i a period in which decisions .would be made affecting [New Zealand’s sheepmeats i exports to the E.E.C. as well | as its long-term access for [dairy products. ; "Clearly this calls for a j renewed and sustained effort I to protect New Zealand’s [trading interests,” Mr Tallboys said. “In addition to increased ' activity in all other appropriate areas, the Government I has decided to step up in i the coming months the

tempo of its publicity efforts ; in Britain and other E.E.C.; member countries.” ; Mr Taiboys said it was timely to remind the Community of the facts supporting New Zealand’s claim that continuity of access for its primary exports to the E.E.C., under fair trading conditions, was essential to the New Zealand economy. The New Zealand Planning [Council had been invited to [prepare a report on New ! Zealand and its economic re-j jlations with the E.E.C. This was expected to form the I cornerstone for a range of | Government publications “addressed to specific influential audiences in the Community.”

As well, a new quarterly' publication in the main lan- ■ guages of the E.E.C. would; ;be distributed throughout! the Community, and the! New Zealand High Commis-j sion in London would issue a monthly louma’ directed at British nublic opinion. The NZPA renorts from London that the head of the British butchers’ organisation has called on the E.E.C. to leave New Zealand’s lamb alone. “Our trade with New Zea-' land must be safeguarded absolutely,” said Mr Roy Taylor, president of the National Federation of Meat Traders, at the federation’s annual conference in Cheltenham. If the E.E.C. devised rules! for the sale and marketing; of sheepmeat, they must be! more flexible than any past! or present rules on beef, he said.

“We will not accept a phasing-out arrangement nor indeed the provision of any framework which might ultimately allow any restriction on such imports,” Mr Taylor said. "We do not even want to hear the word quota in any context affecting New Zealand lamb.”