NEW ZEALAND TOUR 1967
LUNCHEON 3IVEN 3Y MR. HOLYOAKE, PRIIE M! INISTER
OF NEW ZEALAND IN HONOUR OF MR. HOLT, PRIME
MINISTER OF AUSTRALIA
" ELLIUITON, N' ZEALAND33RD FLBRUARY, 1967
Text of Speech made by Mr. Hugh '. att ( Deputy Leader of the Opposition)
The Right Hon. the Prime Minister, the Right Hon. M1r. Holt, Your
Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen:
Could I first of all apologise for the absence of the
Leader of the Opposition Mr. Kirk, who I understand could well be
Sir in your country while you are over here. He would have loved
to ave joined y. u oday at this function. But I do want to join
with the Prime Minister in extending a very warm welcome at least
as warm a welcome as it is humanly possible to extend on such a day
as this in : ellington to welcome you to our shores a very important
occasion for us here in Iew Zealand. As the Prime Minister has
stated we are the same people: we have the same principles: we
have the same ideals: we enjoy similar standards of living: and
the more we visit one another's countries the richer we will be.
There was a time when New Zealand depended a great deal on Australia:
in fact there was a time when we were -overned from Australia
at least, from part of Australia: New oouth iales. But we grew
up and we gained our independence, our own ' overnment but we are
not completely independent of one another, neither would we wish
to be. But it is strange how many people in the world still think
that New Zealand is part of Australia. And you know somehow Sir,
that does annoy Kiwis. ' hen you are in New York or London and somebody
says to you "' here are you from": " I'm from New Zealand": " Oh,
that's an island off the coast of Australia, isn't it," And then
of course we have to explain, we have to explain that we are not
any longer roverned by Australia that we are not part of the
Australian Constitution but that we do depend a great deal on
Australia, on our friendship and co-operation one with the other.
It is only natural that we will have a great deal in common.
Incidentally, I was born in Australia, But I have never in my
whole life taken any credit for that.
One of the problems facing both of our nations at
this time is this pro.. lem of trade. Our growth and expansion has
brought immense problems with it and we are ooth concerned with
expanding our trade with the rest of the world. In the past you
have buiTt your industry. Your industrial development has been
nursed and encouraged by your aovernment's protection. It has
made Australia a treat industrial country. We admire your drive
and expansion in the field of trade and the standard of
workmanship is a credit to your technicians. ; Je are pleased to
purchase the products of your industry, but at the same time we
believe you could purchase more from us. The New Zealand-Australia
Free Trahe Agreement signed two years ago was designed to " ive
freer trade between the two countries, but unfortunately there
are some who believe that the reverse is indeed happening. I hope
that the spirit behind the Free Trade Agreement is in fact given
effect to and that the figures that have oeen produced to show
that New 2ealand is indeed in a worse position today than she was
when the igreement was signed are only a temporary indication of
a reverse, and that before long Australia will be purchasing more
of New Zealand's production. iie need to trade with you: we want
to purchase Australian goods: but we have a feeling that Australia
could do more to assist New Zealand by purchasing her production. / 2
-2-
I have stated that you concentrated on developig
your industry. We in New Zealand have done likewise. 7e must
continue to do so. We can learn a lesson fr-m what you have
achieved in your country. You gave protection to your
industry. must'continue to protect ours, to maintain our
standard of livi n, and as long as we can both understand the
problems that each country faces well, then, we can really
achieve something. New Zealand has some advantages over
Australia. In this field Australia has many advantages over
New Zealand. One advantage we have that I am sure you would love
to have is some of that cheap electric power that we can produce
from the lakes and the rivers that you will have an opportunity
of seeing. v. e in New Zealand are using that cheap power for the
development of our industry, and we must continue to do so. You
will not have the opportunity on this visit of seeing the
foundation being laid for New Zealand's iron and steel industry
in the North Island. I wish you had. I hope you will return to
see it, and I hope you will realise that when you do, Sir, this
great iron and steel industry will mean that we will be producing
here in New Zealand much of the -oods that we are now importing
from Australia. ' ie have to do it, because we have to be selfsupporting
where we possibly can. I read from your itinerary
that you will be visiting the South Island. You will see there,
especially at this time of the year some of the west wheat
growing country in the world wheat growing country that can
produce over twice as many Dushels per acre as the wheatgrowing
country of Australia. It is not so long ago that Few Zealand
exported wheat to Australia. Last year we imrported 4 1/ 2 million
bushels, but when you pay a visit to the South Island, Sir, you
will see that this year here are 20 000 a-ditional acres of
wheat under production, and so we will only need to buy one
million bushels of wheat from Australia possibly, and I hope we
will see the day . when we will not have to buy ary wheat from
Australia. Now, Sir, that does not mean that we do not want to
trade with Australia, but we are following a pattern that you
have shown us, that we, as you, have to develop our own country.
I do believe that there is a -reat future as the
Prime M inister has said, in the tourist industry, but I do believe,
Sir, that we know you much better than you know us. we know
when obooy Si . pson wins the toss or )' oes out for a duck, or whether
the great Australian Davis Cup is eing played for or whether the
, allabies have won their matc in France or in Scotland. know
everything that you do, but when we go to Sydney or to Melbourne
we can scarcely read a word of what is happening in Eew Zealand.
I think a great deal more can oe done to advertise our country
in your country as you hive done to advertise your country in ours.
And so, Sir, I do say th', t I appreciate the opportunity of oining
with the Prime Minister in this very warm welcome to you today.
May you and Mrs. Holt have a most enjoyable few days in this
country of ours, and may you leave it with an appreciation of t; e
fact that it is worth coming back to and it is worth encouraging
other Australians to do likewise. All the very best to you and a
safe journey home.
Right Hon. Keith Holyoake
Mrs Stevenson and Jentlemen:
I give you the toast to the 3uest of Honour, the Right
Hon. Harold Holy.