Importance Of Navy To N.Z.

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30823, 7 August 1965, Page 16

Importance Of Navy To N.Z.

“If flie people of New Zealand do not want a Navy they should say so now. But if they do then they should be prepared to maintain one as a viable force with sufficient ships and back-up to make it an efficient Navy in which to serve,” said Commodore B. J. Turner, the 2nd Naval Member of the Navy Board, in Christchurch last night.

Addressing the annual meeting of the Canterbury branch of the Navy League. Commodore Turner said that today it seemed fairly common practice for people to attack the Navy. The main argument seemed to be “had not the great bomb finished the virtue of navies?” “Today we are faced with questions thrown at us from all sources—questions such as: Under the threat of nuclear war de we really need ships? How many? How much can we afford? Why six frigates?” he said. Dependence On Ships Commodore Turner said that regardless of what armaments were discussed the maritime defence of New Zealand was absolutely essential. “In this part of the world the whole of our economy depends on the ships that arrive and leave our ports. And because of this those ships have to be defended.” In the 1920’:. and the 1930’5, fairly stringent times, the people of the country faced up to their responsibilities in a big way. But this did not seem to be the case today, he said. Commodore Turner said that regardless of the ultimate weaponry, conventional forces were needed. The men New Zealand had entering its Navy were as good as any in the world; but they had to have equipment that was as good as any other. The Dominion was a member of certain collective defence treaties and as such had to, as it had promised, fulfil its obligations. It couJd not rely on the charity of others all the time. The six frigates often talked of was not a magical number. It had been decided on by the Navy Board as the

logical number New Zealand could afford both economically and with regard to available manpower. He said that in the Vietnam war 99 per cent of the American war effort was moved into the area by ships. At present the R.N.Z.N. was negotiating for the loano f a frigate—similar to H.M.N.Z.S. Otago—from the Royal Navy. “This has been offered to us on what I believe to be very generous terms. Whether we take advantage of the offer we should know by early next month. “If New Zealand gives too negative an answer to the question of whether we need a Navy, and there is no sound body of informed opinion to counter attacks made on it, then we will not long possess this country,” he said.