Complacency On Defence

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29792, 7 April 1962, Page 13

Complacency On Defence

( N.Z. Press Association)

HAMILTON. April 6

New Zealand was not facing the situation with the reality the dangers deserved, said the Minister of Defence (Mr Eyre) in an address to the Hamilton Officers’ Club last night. “There is far too much apathy and complacency concerning New Zealand's commitments and resp msibilities for ne defence of c xintries in our sphere of influence. “It is time that a far more realistic view was taken of the situation.” he said. “Today this country has not been asked to make any-

thing like the sacrifices that are made in other countries to maintain the necessary state of military preparedness.”

Mr Eyre said the safety of not only New Zealand but of all the countries in the Pacific area depended entirely on collective security. “The annihilation of d.stance by the modern jet age has made the once-far-away Far East New Zealand's neighbours and the whole area is still engaged in a great social and political revolution.” he said “Peace there, as elsewhere in the world today, is

maintained through military and political balances but these balances are very precarious ”

In the great confusion of ideological, economic, and politasal stresses dividing the area. New Zealand could not stand aloof, be added She was caught in the w*ilrl-pool-of events and must, help toward enmtrir.g that the military and political balances were maintained

"No nation in these modern days can defend itself alone, not even tee mighty United States, but democracy can be raved by the Western world if every country plays its full part,” Mr Eyre said.