Australians Not Out To Spike Us'

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31118, 22 July 1966, Page 8

Australians Not Out To Spike Us '

(From Our Own Reporter) WELLINGTON, July 21.

"Get rid of this big brother suspicion” is the advice the New Zealand High Commissioner in Australia (Mr J. L. Hazlett) has for New Zealanders. Interviewed in Wellington Mr Hazlett said it was in Australia’s interests to give New Zealand a helping hand, and It was prepared to do so. The Limited Free Trade Agreement with Australia was only working in favour of Australians because they were taking advantage of it “I wonder how many New Zealand exporters have actually read the Free Trade Agreement. It has so many avenues far protection for New Zealand trade,” Mr Hazlett said.

During the negotiations for the agreement the Australian Government was “leaning over backwards to make it work.” He said New Zealanders should get rid of the big brother-little brother prejud-

ice—“the Australian® are definitely not out to spike us.” Industrial Nation Australia had tremendous resources, many of which had yet to be tapped. With its immigration it was bound to became a major industrial nation, and New Zealand could feed it. Mr Hazlett said he meant “feed” both literally and figuratively. The key of New Zealand was greater production. The New Zealand fanner should stop looking at the ground about his feet, and get rid of the impression that if he produced more he would be taxed more.

Mr Hazlett predicted a future of trade between two countries, even to the extent of an economic union, but without political or constitutional ties. “I think it will be a slow but certain process,” he said. Referring again to the farmer, he said: “The New Zealand primary producer has this in his own hands.” Mr Hazlett said the Prime Minister (Mr Holyoake) had made one of the greatest impressions of any of the representatives at the recent South-east Asia Treaty Organ-

isation council meeting in Canberra. He had carried out a heavy round of official engagements and had “left his mark on Australia,” Mr Hazlett said. “There is no doubt that he is considered the senior Prime Minister of the Commonwealth, especially after

i the impression of strength h* gave in the opening speech.” ’ Mr Hazlett is in New Zea- ; land on a visit coinciding i with the first Rugby test in which his son. Mr E. J. Hazi lett, played. He will have a ■ meeting with Mr Holyoake to- ■ morrow before returning to • Canberra.