Monitoring System For French Tests

Press, Volume CV, Issue 31060, 16 May 1966, Page 1

Monitoring System For French Tests

(New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, May 15. The Prime Minister (Mr Holyoake) today gave details of the monitoring system New Zealand will set up in the Pacific as a precautionary measure in the light of the French plans to hold nuclear tests in the Pacific.

The plans provide for the establishment of radiation monitors at seven stations (Mangaia, Rarotonga, Aitutaki, Penrhyn, Apia, Tonga and Niue).

to co-operate with arrangements for the installation of the monitoring system,” he said.

These monitors will be operated by local staff, usually meteorological staff. Readings will be taken and reported to New Zealand scientific authorities should a pre-determined “notification level” be reached.

sary equipment and instruct the local operators in its use. “I should like to repeat what 1 have said on previous occasions,” said Mr Holyoake. “We have no reason whatsoever to believe that any increase in the radiation level will be detected in New Zea- ; land or the Cook Islands that could conceivably be regarded as constituting a hazard to health or calling for any action. PRECAUTIONARY “The Government is establishing the monitoring system as a precautionary measure to satisfy itself that everything is being done to make double sure that the wellbeing of the people of New Zealand and the Pacific Islands with which we have a close association is fully protected. “1 am sure that the monitoring service will prove that assurance. Leaders of the Pacific communities concerned have confirmed their readiness

U.N. Debate Urged (N.Z. Press Association > WELLINGTON, May 15. The Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament today renewed its request to the Prime Minister (Mr Holyoake) to use New Zealand's position on the Security Council to raise the question of the French tests in the Pacific. In a telegram to Mr Holyoake the campaign said: “In view of General de Gaulle’s intention to proceed at an early date with the testing of nuclear weapons in the Pacific, heedless of protests, we ask you to take immediate action in terms of the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament’s Easter resolution."

In addition, it is planned to make collections of radioactive materials falling either as rain or dust at 12 stations (Mangaia, Rarotonga, Aitutaki, Penrhyn, Apia, Tonga, Niue, Suva and Nandi in the Fiji Islands, Tarawa, Funafuti and Raoul), and dust filtered from the air by air sampling equipment at Rarotonga and Fiji. SAMPLE ANALYSIS Samples will be analysed at the Department of Health's National Radiation Laboratory as they become available. Mr Holyoake said that, [through the co-operation of the R.N.Z.A.F., a Hercules flight carrying a team of scientists from the Department of Health’s National Radiation Laboratory in Christchurch would leave Auckland in the last week in May for the Pacific Islands concerned, where they would deliver the neces-

The resolution called on the Government to take the matter to the Security Council.