R.S.A. CALLS FOR DEFENCE UNITY

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30576, 20 October 1964, Page 3

R.S.A. CALLS FOR DEFENCE UNITY

(New Zealand Press Association) 1 WELLINGTON, October 19. The R.SA. feels it has a duty to call publicly on the leaders of the Government and the Opposition to call a truce so that the efficiency and morale of New Zealand’s defence forces will not be undermined by uncertainty of policy.

The Dominion president of the R.S.A., Mr Hamilton Mitchell, said, in a statement issued tonight, that it was traditional that in time of national danger Government and Opposition parties had put aside differences in the national interest.

“The ILS.A. believes that in the situation that exists in Southeast Asia the country expects the present Government and Opposition will do that now,” said Mr Mitchell.

“Above all else, the need at present is for the whole nation to give full and effective support to a policy which will ensure that our forces, elements of which are already in the front' line on an active service basis, have

proper and adequate equipment, and that there are reserves of trained men and material behind those forces.

“For some years, the R.S.A. has tried to persuade both political parties to remove the defence of the country from the party political arena and work jointly to produce a long-term policy for our overseas commitments and for home defence. “Recent defence debates in Parliament have illustrated how essential it is in the interest of the nation that a common policy should be worked out,” said Mr Mitchell.