“Defence Visit Valuable”

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31168, 19 September 1966, Page 18

“Defence Visit Valuable”

Although such visits were too brief, what was gained from them was of inestimable value to those taking part, said Air ViceMarshal S. B. Grant, a member of the senior directing staff of the Imperial Defence College, in Christchurch yesterday.

The team had been in New Zealand for a week only but much had been accomplished because visiting had been kept down on the itinerary and more time had been allowed for discussions. “These discussions were not just social affairs. We were

really working all the time. They provided us with the opportunity to meet your leaders in all walks of life in their own environment, and to hear what their vidws were on a variety of subjects,” he said. By the time the 10 members of the team who left last night for Australia, reached home and the classroom again, they will have travelled more than 25,000 miles in four weeks. Air Vice-Marshal Grant said the Imperial Defence College was an establishment which took selected senior officers and civil servants and gave them a year's course in a variety of major topics, affecting world affairs.

“There are studies in electronics, the Commonwealth, science, the United Nations, defence in depth, economics and area studies of the world. In the final terms members study defence philosophy in which they examine the defence thinking of countries around the world,” he said. Between 60 and 70 students from the Commonwealth attend each year. Air Vice-Marshal Grant said the older countries in the

Commonwealth always sent their complement without fall whereas the younger members sent their men as and when they could. Since the Second World War it had been customary to invite the United States, he said. Overseas students represented a quarter of the student body and a very vital part. “They provide first-hand experience when we deal with a study applicable to the general area from where they come.”

Between August and September. during the summer recess, five teams of about 15 in each, left England by air on study tours. This summer groups had gone to Canada and the United States, Latin America, Europe, Near and Middle East, and to Southeast Asia.

“On their return to college, team members will each present their findings to other groups. These are serious papers into which go a lot of hard work," he said.

Asked why the groups rarely visited military establishments in a host country, Air Vice-Marshal Grant said that that would just be a busman's holiday.

“We know all about your country's defences. After all, we have students at the col lege from New Zealand. Al though we do not visit nub tary bases here we do in fart have discussions with your top military men." he said