Acting Permanent Representative of New Zealand to the UN

Seymour N. Siegel is the host. His guest is the Acting Permanent Representative of New Zealand to the United Nations, Norman V. Farrell. The panel of questioners is Ted Stannard, UPI's correspondent at the UN, Peter McEvoy, Overseas Press Club editorial writer and Michael Claus, New York correspondent to The Australian.

Ted Stannard: New Zealand aligns itself mainly toward Europe, yes?

Farrell: We're in a somewhat ambivalent position. Our location obviously has us leaning toward Asia, history, and trade toward Europe. We take a strong interest in Asian affairs and will continue that way.

McEvoy - Tell us more about NZ

Farrell: The country is 1,000 miles long. Three islands. No more than 280 miles wide. 100,000 square miles. 9,000 miles from New York

Claus: What is New Zealand's attitude toward South Africa and Rhodesia.

Farrell: We are integrated and provide equal opportunity to all. And this highlights our intense dislike of Apartheid.

Stannard: Nuclear testing in Pacific by French and others. Will NZ be at the Geneva non-nuke conference?

Farrell: No decision yet. One of our main interests in the UN is the opportunities it may offer toward disarmament. We welcome the draft non-proliferation treaty in this session. Initially, we weren't satisfied, but once some changes were made we became a sponsor and signer.

McEvoy: UN concerned with seabeds of the world. Is this an important area for New Zealand.

Farrell: I am hardly qualified to say what resources can be found, but I will say I think it is a good thing this whole question of the peaceful uses of the seabed has come before the UN. We know there are tremendous resources there. Before economic competition begins for them, there should be some discussion at the UN to see what the possible solutions are available. I can't underestimate the difficulties in all this. Where the continental ends and the ocean floor begins, etc.

Claus: NZ is a large staging base for Antarctica exploration. Can Antarctica remain just for science?

Farrell: Not within my field. The Antarctic treaty is the kind of thing we need for the seabed.

Stannard: Seabeds -- UN acquiring licensing authority for the seabeds?

Farrell -- I won't presume to answer. Whether the UN confines itself to laying down rules for resource use or whether the UN itself or a special agency will take on the role of licensing and exploitation of the seabed, these are big questions I can't answer. NZ does favor this as a potential revenue source.

McEvoy - UN admission of mini-states. Vietnam, South West Africa.

Farrell: Ministates I would like to look at in terms of potential and existing mini-states, and here I'm assuming a definition that doesn't exist. To start with there are people who may call NZ a mini-state. What is your definition of a mini state?
This was in the Sec Generals' report last year....but let's look at Western Samoa which was under our trusteeship will 1962. 140,000 people have chosen not to apply for UN membership, it has, however, by joining W.H.O. derived benefit from advice and tech assistant from specialized agencies. This seems to be a sensible approach.

Claus: What is NZ feeling about admission of Red China?

Farrell: we voted against Albania resolution that would substitute Peking government of China for Taiwan. However, surely the world's most populous nation should participate..however, there are facts that have to be faced. One of these is that we don't consider the govt in Peking has behaved in such a way to qualify for membership in the UN. I refer particularly to the blatant interference by the Chinese in the internal affairs of a number of countries. We don't want any resolution of the Chinese representation problem that would prejudice Taiwan and the right of their people to be heard.

Audio courtesy of the NYC Municipal Archives WNYC Collection

WNYC archives id: 151841
Municipal archives id: T5982