Germans leave N.Z. with pledge of help, friendship

Press, 24 October 1978, Page 1

Germans leave N.Z. with pledge of help, friendship

P 'A Auckland The President of West Germany (Mr Walter Scheel) left Auckland for Canberra yesterday, leaving behind promises of friendship and co-operation.

For five days, with warmth and compassion, he had persuasively pressed home a message that the Federal Republic had an awakening interest in the South Pacific. He and members of his top-ranking party left Government and business leaders alike in no doubt that West Germany considered New Zealand’s role in the South Pacific to be vital. An offer was made to strengthen New Zealand’s economy with capital investment and technological expertise, in return for the use of natural resources. In talks in Wellington. Rotorua, and Auckland the vision was projected of many possible joint ventures along the lines of the recent fishing arrangement. However, it became clear in Auckland yesterdav that the Federal Republic is gazing outside the agricultural sphere. While an honorary doctorate was being conferred on Mr Scheel at Auckland University, the Federal Minister of Economics (Count Otto lambsdorff) was holding discussions with a group of prominent New Zealand businessmen. Count Lambsdorff’s message was clear and simple — West Germany wanted to build up its interest in New Zealand and it had

capital available. More cooperation and a greater exchange of information were essential. He mentioned . energy, forestry, and foodstuffs as New Zealand raw materials that could be put to use. Count Lambsdorff gave heart to the businessmen by criticising the protectionist tendency of the European Economic Community. “We are anti-protection-ism,’’ he said. However, there would be a tendency in Europe towards an open-market policy in future. The only exception to this was in agriculture, and he told the businessmen that he foresaw no rapid change in the agricultural policy. The only likely alteration was in the dairy and milk product sector, which was aimed at ridding the community of an overproduction problem. However, he hoped that the market could possibly be kept open for traditional suppliers of sheepmeat. Count Lambsdorff said that New Zealand had to defend its position on agriculture, and would have to look elsewhere and restructure its economy. Mr Scheel reinforced the message of co-operation in his address at Auckland University.

All countries that now thought about the issues of tomorrow needed one another, he said. “Your country has a lot to give,” Mr Scheel said. “Your experience with integration of an ancient and indigenous civilisation and race into modern society on the basis of equality, your knowledge of the conditions of life and the interests of the young States of the South Pacific, can be of value to all who are serious about shaping their relations with the developing countries in the light of future requirements. “We therefore need continuing dialogue between German and New Zealand scientists and politicians.” Mr Scheel is only the second person to receive an honorary doctorate from Auckland University. The first was the Queen Mother, in 1965. After mingling briefly with guests, Mr Scheel. Dr Mildred Scheel, and the other members of the German party were driven to Auckland airport for a formal ceremony of farewell before their departure for Canberra yesterday afternoon. The German party will spend five days in Australia, and will visit, Sydney, Melbourne, and Perth.