£22m Defence Cost Could Face Govt.

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31306, 28 February 1967, Page 1

£22m Defence Cost Could Face Govt.

(New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, February 27. Major defence expenditure of at least £22 million could face the Government this year if it was to meet recommendations made in the Defence White Paper last year.

According to the N.Z.P.A. Parliamentary correspondent, the Government has to select and order a fighter-bomber replacement for the Royal New Zealand Air Force’s Canberra bombers.

It has to decide whether it will order a fourth frigate and light fixed-wing “spotter” aircraft for the Army. Asked tonight if the Cabinet had discussed the Defence White Paper’s recommendations recently, the Prime Minister, Mr Holyoake, replied: “There has been no discussion at Cabinet level recently but there is a Cabinet Defence Committee meeting on March 9.” Asked if the committee would specifically discuss the ordering of Canberra replacements, a fourth frigate or army spotter aircraft, the Prime Minister said: “I know that some of these things will be on the agenda.” Asked if economic considerations would mean the deferment of defence purchases, Mr Holyoake said: “I am bound to say that the economic position-at any time must affect all the decisions of the Government.” To date, the Government has received and studied evaluation reports on three possible replacements the American F. 4 Phantom and F. 5 Freedom Fighter and the Australian-built, French-de-signed Mirage.