“N.Z. Security In Jet Age Lost”

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30588, 3 November 1964, Page 10

“N.Z. Security In Jet Age Lost”

(Neu> Zealand Press Association) ROTORUA, November 2. The rapid development of military aircraft had brought new problems to New Zealand, said the Minister of Works (Mr Allen) opening the annual Dominion conference of the New Zealand Air Force Association, in Whakatane.

“Remoteness Is no longer a form of defence,’’ he said. “The jet age has shrunk the world to a size when a town, or even a particular building, in any country can be pinpointed and bombed by aircraft or rocket. “We in New Zealand have lost the security of the remoteness we enjoyed through both world wars,” said Mr Allen. The perils of invasion had been brought home to New Zealand during the campaign against the Japanese in World War 11. Since then, the country had come to recognise that the focus of its national interest would have to be switched to South-east Asia. This development is justified.

“Today we watch the ominous cloud of Communist interest over the area and our commitments through our various collective security agreements make us partners with other nations of the free world.” Mr Allen said the Government was fully aware of the

important part former service organisations played in keeping the New Zealand public defence conscious.

He emphasised that, although New Zealand was interested in helicopter developments and had sent men overseas for training in this field, the possibility of equipping New Zealand forces with helicopters was still at the drawing board stage, “It is interesting to note that we are spending far less on defence a head of population than most countries. “This year, however, we are increasing our defence expenditure to £36 million, compared to last year’s expenditure of £29 million. “This increased expenditure is not just a gesture, it is not an extravagance, nor is it an admission that we have not spent enough on defence in the past “It is the result of a carefully planned programme, of a policy of making sure that when we re-equip we get up-to-date equipment capable of doing its job properly, for a long time to come.”