P.M.’s hopes rise after U.K. talks

Press, 29 April 1978, Page 6

P.M.’s hopes rise after U.K. talks

NZPA staff correspondent London The Prime Minister (Mr Muldoon) will leave London today after a flying visit, convinced that there is a mobilising of British opinion behind New Zealand.

He said that during his day and a half in London he had gained the personal support of both the Prime Minister (Mr Callaghan; and the Leader of the Opposition (Mrs Thatcher) in New Zealand’s fight against a Common Market regulation on sheepmeat. In meetings with bankers. Mr Muldoon said, he detected a “great weight” of support for New Zealand.

He said that British housewives and butchers had an “enlightened self-interest” in seeing that New Zealand lamb remained a staple part of the British diet. From all quarters, there had been expressions of support for New Zealand as once again its trade with Britain was at the mercy of the European Communitv.

Mr Muldoon argues against a sheepmeat regulation in any form, saying it is unnecessary for the full bureaucratic weight of the EE C. to get behind a relatively insignificant product in which it is only twothirds self-sufficient.

He repeated the theme in private meetings with Mr Callaghan and Mrs Thatcher, and in public forums at a press conference — attended

Iby 60 journalists, a recc I for him in London — and ; millions of 8.8. C. televisi< viewers.

; Mr Muldoon said the e feet of the sheepmeat reg I'ation would be to increa the price of lamb in Brita Ito nearer French leve (where lamb is 70 per cei dearer), which would lead t a drop in consumption — < home-killed lamb as well t the New Zealand froze meat.

• He described the threat a !the biggest single economi I issue New Zeaiand faces i the short to medium tern of far greater consequent to New Zealand than th fall-off in dairy exports tBritain. Mr Muldoon hammere home the point that any re duction in New Zealant | lamb sales would not just b I felt in New Zealand. The ef feet on Britain would b< bad. too.

British shipping lines have millions of pounds invested in the trade, insurance comI panies have a large stake i and many jobs in Britain could be at risk if New Zealand had to find another market for its annual export of 200,000-plus tonnes.

The pledge by Mrs That-

■er to do “no less” if she ere Prime Minister than ■r predecessors had done as seen as significant, ntil yesterday, a firm comitme’nt to bat for New Zea<id had been lacking from ie Conservative Party top. Mrs Thatcher underlined er desire to stand by the □ld Commonwealth” by dling Mr Muldoon she ould send her shadow forgn Secretary, Mr John avies, to Brussels specificity to put New Zealand’s ase. Common Market farm finisters have ended a four'ay session in Luxemburg without reaching agreement •n the prices the Communty’S 8.5 million farmers will eceive for their produce in he 1978-79 farming year.

The Ministers also failed o resolve any of the key retted problems facing them, ncluding a Franco-Italian lispute over a floor price for wine, Belgian demands for a 5.5 per cent increase in he price of milk, and plans to support the Community’s Mediterranean agriculture. The Ministers will hold a decisive meeting in Brussels in two weeks to iron out their differences and fix the new farm prices.