C.N.D. TO OPEN PETITION

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30065, 25 February 1963, Page 3

C.N.D. TO OPEN PETITION

Nuclear-Free Zone Sought

A nation-wide petition will be launched in Christchurch in the Museum Lecture Theatre next Thursday evening to urge the Government to promote the formation of a Southern Hemisphere zone, in which nations with territory south of the equator would reject the stockpiling, testing or use of nuclear weapons.

Such a plan was proposed in Australia by the Leader of the Opposition (Mr A. A. Calwell). Nuclear-weapon-free zones have been advocated by Brazil, Indonesia, and several African states.

The Mayor (Mr G. Manning) will preside and Mrs Mary Woodward, national secretary of the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament, will introduce the petition. Argument in support of the petition will be given by Mrs L. Aldrich. Miss P. M. Robinson, Miss M. Oxley, Dr. K. K. Pandey, Dr. W. Metcalf, and the Rev. D. W. Edmonds.

Tables will be set up during March at many points, first in the city and later in the suburbs, at which citizens will be able to sign the petition.

A statement issued by the committee of the Christchurch branch says that the aim of the petition has additional urgency because of the reported plans of France to test H-bombs at the Mangareva Islands. 300 miles from Pitcairn. This would be the first explosion of H-bombs in this hemisphere and the prospect had been trenchantly criticised throughout New Zealand, said the statement. Since France had admitted that African disapproval closed the Sahara testing ground, the petition signatures might show that disapproval in at least this part of the Pacific could not be ignored either, it said.

Refresher Courses.—More than 100 applications have been received from motorists who wish to attend the refresher courses which will be conducted by officers of the City Council traffic department next month. The courses will begin in the MED. lecture room on March 30, not March 22 as reported m "The Press” last week. .f