‘Nuclear Disarmament Depends On The Man In The Street’

Press, Volume C, Issue 29523, 26 May 1961, Page 2

‘Nuclear Disarmament Depends On The Man In The Street’

Though the men who guide the destinies of nations can lead the May, real progress towards nuclear disarmament can only be made through the conviction of ordinary people—the man in the street. This was the conclusion of an all-day meeting of women, held yesterday by the Christchurch branch of the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament, after hearing a panel of speakers. A resolution was passed yesterday afternoon urging the Government to continue its support for nuclear disarmament proposals.

The resolution endorsed the campaign's three-point policy <1) that New Zealand will not acquire or use nuclear weapons either at home or overseas; <2l that New Zealand does not desire to be defended by the nuclear weapons of any other nation; and (3) that New Zealand’s international treaties shall be revised to ensure that the country cannot be a party to nuclear wax. A recent statement by the Minister of Defence (Mr Eyre), that New Zealand had not acquired any form of nuclear weapons, was welcomed and the meeting expressed the hope that this policy would be continued. Ways and means of helping to preserve world peace and of making the campaign’s work more positive were discussed. RECONCILIATION “We stand for reconciliation,’’ said the chairman of the meeting (Mrs M. Woodward). The word "peace” could merely mean “the absence of war,” she said. On the discussion panel were Mr R. Hill, a trade unionist; Dr. W. Metcalf, a scientist, and the Rev, J. D. Grocott, a churchman. Each speaker discussed the attitude of his particular group to nuclear disarmament.

About 20 women from various organisations with differing points of view agreed that women felt a responsibility for the future and a duty to stand together to do something for the security of the children of the future. New Zealand's best contribution to disarmament would be to take a clear stand as a neutral nation, not only by having no nuclear weapons but also by withdrawing from pacts like 5.E.A.T.0., which could involve use of the weapons, said Mrs Elsie Locke in an address to the morning session. EMPHASIS The campaign was putting the emphasis on nuclear disarmament as a beginning to total disarmament. As an illustration of her point Mrs Locke said that if a fire broke out in Christchurch, so big that it could not be handled

by available fire brigades, the public could help in two ways.

They could decide to work to obtain a fire service competent to extinguish a colossal fire 'while the present fire was still burning) or they could muster everyone to help cut fire breaks to stop the fire from spreading. “By starting with nuclear disarmament we are cutting the first fire break,” she said. Assuming that neither the United States nor the Soviet Union wanted a nuclear war, the only way to be sure was to disarm because of the danger of war by “accident” and by the spread of nuclear weapons, said Mrs Locke.

Mr G. M. Miller, lecturer in economics at the University of Canterbury, discussed New Zealand’s policy on S.E.A.T.O.