N.Z.-Japan fish pact initialled; no amendment

Press, 19 August 1978, Page 2

N.Z.-Japan fish pact initialled; no amendment

PA Wellington An agreement giving Japan access to fish in New Zealand’s 200-mile economic zone was initialled in Wellington yesterday afternoon by leaders of the negotiating teams.

The draft has yet to be ratified by the New Zealand and Japanese Governments, but this is expected to be only a formality. The agreement, which will not be made public until it has been ratified, is likely to go before the New Zealand Cabinet on Monday. Ratification by the Japanese Government is expected to take longer.

The initialling yesterday by an Assistant Secretary of Foreign Affairs (Mr lan Stewart) and the Japanese Ambassador in New Zealand (Mr Umeo Kagei) follows a two-week delay during which the Prime Minister (Mr Muldoon) attempted to clarify asurances from Japan that New Zealand would be given more favourable trade treatment in return for access to New Zealand’s economic zone.

Last week Mr Muldoon indicated he wanted the trade question clarified in the draft agreement, but yester-

day he released a press statement saying New Zealand had reached an understanding with Japan and therefore the agreement as originally negotiated was accept-

"As a consequence of the exchanges that have taken place, there is no doubt that the Japanese Government now understands very well how we intend to exercise our rights in this area,” Mr Muldoon said. Mr Kagei said he was “very glad” the draft had been initialled. He said he had no idea when the New Zealand Government would announce the quota allocation.

“I can only say that the New Zealand Government has a very deep understanding of the Japanese fishing industry and I also have deep faith and trust in the good will of the New Zealand Government,” he said. Broadly speaking, he added, as far as Japan was concerned the bigger the allocation the better.

A spokesman from the Japanese fishing agency said the total tonnage taken from New Zealand waters in 1976 — the latest available figure —- was 166,000 tons, which Japan hoped to continue at least at the same level.