Defoliants A Useful Tool, Says Minister

Press, Volume CVII, Issue 31440, 5 August 1967, Page 16

Defoliants A Useful Tool, Says Minister

(New Zealand Press Association)

NEW PLYMOUTH, August 4.

The use of defoliants in Vietnam was comparable to the use by the Allies during the Second World War of “artificial moonlight” in Italy, the Minister of Defence (Mr D. S. Thomson) said in Inglewood tonight.

In an interview, Mr Thomson said the purpose of the defoliants was to expose the enemy from cover—similar to the use of flares and artificial moonlight to expose the enemy during the Second World War.

The defoliant 245 T, in general, did not kill trees; it merely stripped the leaves.

Some tree species were killed but the defoliant was in no way a “crop-killer”. “Our use is to defend South Vietnam," Mr Thomson said. “The war is In South Vietnam, which has been Invaded from the north. “I consider defoliant a very useful tool in assisting in the rejection of this aggression.”

Asked if more aid would be sent, and if the S.A.S. unit would be involved, Mr Thomson said that any question of deployment was a matter for the Government to decide. It would be up to the New Zealand Government to decide on the size and type of any further military assistance to Vietnam.

The provision of 45,000 more United States troops should not lessen the need for further contributions from other allies. There was a clear need for more troops more infantry, he said. “I certainly don’t think that because one of the seven nations does more there is any less need for the others to contribute.”

Mr Thomson said he could not comment on the statements by the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants that it would strive to prevent the manufacture of defoliant material in New Zealand.

"I think it is irresponsible, but I cannot say anything until I have seen their letter.”

New Zealand’s biggest railway union, the 14,000 strong A.S.R.S. earlier today threatened direct industrial action to stop the manufacture of defoliants for use in Vietnam. In a letter to the Prime Minister (Mr Holyoake), the union’s council urged the Government to 'take steps to see that the defoliant was not manufactured in this country. The letter said that the national council of the union had considered the announcement of the firm of Ivon Watkins Dow, Ltd., New Plymouth, that it was negotiating for a contract with the United States Government to make defoliants for use in the Vietnam war. “I am instructed to inform you that if the contract is pursued the A.S.R.S. will take effective steps to prevent its manufacture," said the letter, signed by the secretary (Mr N. A. Collins).