Sir Peter Phipps Blamed

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30914, 22 November 1965, Page 1

Sir Peter Phipps Blamed

(N.Z. Press Association) WELLINGTON,

November 21.

The use and operation of the New Zealand Navy ships since 1960 had been the prime responsibility of Vice-Admiral Sir Peter Phipps, said the Minister of Defence (Mr Eyre) today.

He was replying to a number of recent criticisms by Sir Peter Phipps, who had said there was a danger of two frigates breaking down within 12 months. “I must make it clear that the utilisation and operation of our ships has, since 1960. been the prime responsibility of Admiral Phipps, both as Chief of Naval Staff and later as Chief of Defence Staff. The Government has only sanctioned the use of ships on his recommendations as their princinal adviser over this period.

"As I understand the various views attributed to

Admiral Phipps, the essence of his criticisms relates to the future strains on the Otago and Taranaki, and, indeed, he has reportedly predicted that there is a real danger of these ships breaking down within 12 months.

“It should be recognised that the operational plans for the Otago and Taranaki are not affected by the recent mishap to the Royalist. It had in any event been intended to pay off the Royalist in March, 1966, and she would not have gone to the Far East again after her return to New Zealand this month. “What has resulted from her recent accident has been at. accelerated decision to take the Royalist out of service immediately rather than early next year,” said Mr Eyre.

“This will obviously increase such problems as using her crew to the best advantage until the Waikato requires manning later in 1966, but there is no reason to see the early departure of the Royalist as placing unacceptable operational strains on the remaining ships.

! “There is no doubt that, : during the periods they have i been engaged on operational ■ duties, the Otago and Tara- : naki have worked hard, and ! have covered substantial disI tances. “Conditions such as those

arising from Indonesian ‘confrontation’ of Malaysia over the last two years have imposed strenuous calls on all the Commonwealth naval units serving in the Far East,” said Mr Eyre. “But even in such a situation there has been no question of over-driving the R.N.Z.N. frigates at the expense of proper maintenance. “Since 1960 the Otago and Taranaki have been refitted, maintained and operated strictly in accordance with a cycle which is the same as that followed by the British and Australian navies. “This cycle includes a 20week refit every two years, with regular maintenance periods every three months between refits, plus an extended refit every six years. “There has been no skimping of these maintenance and refit requirements, and it is

not intended to lower the standards in tlje future. “The question of the Navy’s ability to maintain New Zealand’s naval contribution to the Commonwealth Strategic Reserve at the present level of one ship full-time on the Far East station is being carefully examined at present,” said Mr Eyre. “With only the Otago and Taranaki, there could be a short gap in continuity in the second half of 1966, and, even after the Waikato’s arrival in 1967, a three-ship fleet could not maintain fulltime representation in the Far East without occasional gaps to ensure adherence to normal refitting and maintenance schedules. “This is one of the reasons why the Government has been investigating the possibility of obtaining a fourth ship on loan or hire from one of our allies, and substantial negotiations have been taking place. I do not feel, however, that I can comment on that particular aspect just at this time,” 'said Mr Eyre.