“Tell France To Keep Her Bombs”

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30127, 10 May 1963, Page 15

“Tell France To Keep Her Bombs”

(Neto Zealand Press Association)

DUNEDIN, May 9.

France should be told in no uncertain terms “to keep her dirty bombs in her own backyard,” the annual conference of Otago Federated Farmers was told in Dunedin today by Mr J. Laurenson.

“The Algerians kicked them out of Africa; in fact, the French have been kicked out of nearly every country in the world.” The conference unanimously passed a motion from its West Otago branch which said: “In view of the serious after-effects of tall-out from nuclear testing, Federated Farmers urge the Government to protest most strongly against the proposed French testing in the Pacific " Proposing the motion. Mr W. Bailey said: "Scientists are very uncertain about the effects of radio-active fallout, but they are certain it does affect the genetics of both humans and animals.” Mr Laurenson said: “In this matter we have de Gaulle, a dictator, who has professed to

putting bombs before butter. We experienced before a gentleman in Europe who put guns before butter. "Where the French people propose to detonate their bombs is less than 4000 miles from Dunedin.” Mr J. O. H. Tripp, a retiring vice-president, said products from New Zealand at present could be said to be free from fall-out. The same products from Continental c run tries were not free from fall-out. “If these tests take place here we can no longer say our products are free: It could have a big effect on our economy,” he said.