N.Z. MILITARY PLANS

Press, Volume XCI, Issue 27603, 9 March 1955, Page 12

N.Z. MILITARY PLANS

Recommendation To Cabinet REPORT BY MR HOLLAND (New Zealand Press Association) AUCKLAND, March 8. “I am unable at the moment to add to the announcement I made in London concerning any changes that are to be made in our overseas military commitments,” said the Prime Minister (Mr Holland) at Auckland tonight. “It is quite true that I have important recommendations to make to the Cabinet, but it would be quite improper for me to discuss these publicly until they have been thoroughly studied and approved by Ministers. “In addition to my talks in London and Singapore with United Kingdom service authorities, I have had full discussions in Singapore with the Min-, ister of Defence, Mr Macdonald, also with our own Chief of the General Staff, General Gentry, and the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Vice-Marshal Merton, so that I am fully prepared and advised concerning our future defence needs and plans,” said Mr Holland. “In view of their importance, I have called Parliament together for what amounts to a special session, for the main purpose of considering the work of the London and Bangkok conferences, and of providing the fullest opportunity for a full public discussion of the Government’s defence programme and of world affairs generally.” Mr Holland said he was reported from Singapore as having announced that New Zealand would send substantial ground forces to' Malaya. “I made no such statement, and denied it publicly the moment I saw it” he said. * “I have also seen a report from the correspondent of a leading New Zealand newspaper to the effect that we are to send a battalion of Army personnel. Both statements are mere newspaper speculation.”