Not Dictating On Mirage

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30823, 7 August 1965, Page 1

Not Dictating On Mirage

The Australian Government would not dictate to New Zealand the question of the possible supply of Aus-tralian-made Mirage fighter aircraft to the Royal New Zealand Air Force, the Australian Minister of Supply (Mr A. Fairhall) said on his arrival in Christchurch from Sydney last evening. Mr Fairhall said that if New Zealand were interested in the French-designed Mirage fighters she could buy them from Australia or directly from France. “If New Zealand does do this we would be in the position to supply maintenance and spare parts,” said Mr Fairhall. In addition Australia had just arranged overseas for a new jet trainer for her own requirements. Same Offer If it met with New Zealand requirements, the same offer of maintenance and spare

parts from Australia would apply, providing the New Zealand Government were interested. Mr Fairhall said that his Government was hopeful that in the next week or two it would be negotiating a licence agreement with the overseas supplier to allow Australia to manufacture for New-Zealand if the New Zealand Government wanted to buy from Australia. If the New Zealand Government wanted to make its own arrangements, direct with the overseas supplier, it was completely entitled to do so. Australia could make available a full engine, airframe service and spare parts supply. “Here is the growing-up of a localised centre of support of the New Zealand Government wants it for defence,” he said. Extensive Research Mr Fairhall said that Australia, through its Department of Supply, operated a very extensive defence research and development organisation. On the sheer economics of the thing, it would be advantageous for the New Zealand

Government to help in its operation. “We believe there is room for co-operation here,” said Mr Fairhall. “I will propose to the New Zealand Government that it might agree to attach a couple of technical officers to the defence research development organisation. So that in fact, the benefit of our research and development effort will be available on reasonable terms to New Zealand.” Mr Fairhall said that underlying what he had to say in Christchurch about defence supply, he thought that the British defence authorities had indicated an inclination to limit their defence effort east of Suez. In plain terms, this meant in South-east Asia. “It seems to mean that Australia and New Zealand, having joint defence interests in South-east Asia, will be required to reconsider the scale of their defences,” he said. “This must inevitably produce a situation underlining the importance of closer association between Australia and New Zealand in the terms of defence supply.”