Navy Estimates’ Rough Passage In The House

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 28980, 22 August 1959, Page 14

Navy Estimates’ Rough Passage In The House

(New Zealand Press Association)

WELLINGTON, August 21. The estimates for the Navy Department had a, stormy passage in the House of Representatives today with the Minister of Defence (Mr Connolly) the target for. the Opposition’s broadside. Opposition speakers claimed that when Mr Connolly was in opposition he had said New Zealand should have five new frigates by 1960. With one frigate, Taranaki, launched last week and another, Otago, under construction, they wanted to know what he was doing about the others. Mr D. C. Seath (Opposition, Waitomo) said he understood five Whitby-class frigates would cost about £21,000,000. “What provision is the Minister making for the extra three frigates? Where is he getting the £21,000,000 from?” Mr T. P. Shand (Opposition, Marlborough) said the whole history of ordering the frigates was “most disturbing.” “Originally they were to cost £1,000,000 each. Then we heard they were going to cost about £4,500.000 for two. Now they’re going to cost about £4,000,000 each. Are “the frigates we’re going to order capable of dealing with any attack on New Zealand? Frankly I think it’s nonsense to consider naval defence against atomic attack on New Zealand. An atomic attack is most unlikely. “It’s time we heard a little more about the new role of the Navy and heard piore about forward planning,'’ Mr Shand said.

Mr Connolly said the question of ordering further frigates was being considered at present.

“I don’t know where the member for Waitomo got the idea about five frigates from. What I said was that it would be years before we got the six frigates necessary to defend New Zealand’s ports,” Mr Connolly said. The two frigates ordered in 1955 were to cost about £2,750,000 each, but by the time they were delivered next year their total cost would be about £9,400,000.

Mr Connolly said the Chief of Air Staff (Air Vice-Marshal M. F. Calder) left recently to study anti-submarine defence overseas and to find’ out what antisubmarine aircraft would be suitable for New Zealand.

Mr Connolly said missiles with atomic warheads could be launched against New Zealand from submarines. New Zealand was very vulnerable. Mr Shand: What are you doing about it?

Mr Connolly: We've set up a Civil Defence organisation, which is more ftian the previous Government did.

Mr R. M. Algie (Opposition, Remuera) said the Navy Department vote was up £143,000 this year on the amount spent last year. “I remember the Minister telling us he would give more efficient service at reduced cost The Minister even said heads would roll,” Mr Algie said. Mr Connolly: They have. Mr Algie: Perhaps the Minister will tell us where they’ve rolled. Mr Connolly: I don’t remember saying the cost of the Navy would be reduced. In regard to heads rolling, I was criticising the number of Royal Navy commanders here. I’m pleased to report the positions are now being occupied by Royal New Zealand Navy officers. Mr T. T. Murray (Opposition, Stratford): Still the same heads.

Discussing frigates again. Mr Connolly said: “I still think we should have six frigates. It would be a long process and it might be eight to 10 years before we got them aIL”

Mr Connolly said costs of the frigates had increased to £9,400,000 because there was provision for a further £1,000,000 for reserves stores of armaments and equipment. Stores and outfitting costs had also increased. “This £9,400,000 is the total cost of the vessels—their building, outfitting, bringing them to New Zealand, and training staff in the United Kingdom to man them,” he said.