LAST WORDS, NOT FAMOUS

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29270, 30 July 1960, Page 12

LAST WORDS, NOT FAMOUS

<Bp WHIM WHAM) "There is no cause lor anxiety. New Zealand’s security is based., on co-ordinated collective, defence arrangements with our Allies .-.-The Minister ot Defence, Mr Connolly, answering questions in the House oi Representatives Really, really, Mr Connolly, 1 have never pretended To feel the least Anxiety about how I am being defended. Walter and Nordie and You have made such a snug and secure little Nest for us. And the Overseas Top Brass will be doing whatever is Best for us. We’ve got an Army as good (of its Size) as you’d find Anywhere, We’ve got a few Ships on the Water and a few Planes in the Air, And so long as a possible Enemy does Nothing nasty or unfair Like lobbing an Atom Bomb into the Middle of Lambton Quay Why, we’re as well defended as we can very well hope to be. The basic Military Principle upon which we now rely Is that Rocket and H-Bomb will harmlessly pass us by. But supposing they do, and Somebody else cops the Lot, One wonders (One does) if New Zealand will be such a favoured Spot? Shall we man our Batteries and sweep our Seaways stoutly. Keeping our Fingers crossed and hoping devoutly That while we maintain this Posture of gallant Resistance The 1.C.8.M.’s aren’t doing their dreadful Work in the Distance, Blasting some other Half (so to speak) of the World out of Existence? Sir. I don’t doubt that “co-ordinated collective defence Arrangements with our Allies" make the best kind of Sense One can look for in a lunatic Age, but as for seeing t. ? cause for Anxiety” I’m in no Mood for agreeing. “ 1 no Personal Anxiety about the next Turn of the Wheel. It’s merely because I don’t see that it makes much Difference WHAT I feel It s not because of any Last Words that really don’t deserve To make the Name of Connolly famous that I manage not to lose my Nerve!