Review Of Defence Advocated

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31728, 11 July 1968, Page 28

Review Of Defence Advocated

IN.Z. Press Association) WELLINGTON, July 10. New Zealand should bring the 1966 defence review up to date to ensure that the country played its full part in its own defence after the British withdrawal from Malaysia and Singapore by the end of 1971, Mr C. W. Gandar (Nat., Mana* watu) said in Parliament today. It had been advocated by some that New Zealand should become a neutral country—the Switzerland of the South Pacific, Mr L. Gandar said. However, he did not agree with this view. New Zealand’s defence budget, if the country became neutral, would be a

tremendous burden to the economy, he said. He was speaking during debate on a private member’s motion, moved by Mr J. R. Harrison (Nat., Hawke’s Bay), that the House supported the measures taken by the Government to maintain and improve New Zealand’s security. Mr Gandar said that Switzerland Spent on defence 36 per cent of its more than it spent on education. In Sweden, a country with only 7.7 million people, $730 million was spent annually on defence, compared with New Zealand’s defence budget of $B7 million. But the greatest argument against neutrality was that it did not take note of New Zealand’s undertaking to defend its island territories, Mr Gandar said. Mr M. Rata (Northern Maori) said that Parliament should have been called together before the five-power

defence talks in Malaysia recently, so that, it could have guided the opinions of New Zealand at such an important meeting. The Minister of Defence (Mr Thomson) said that Parliament was together now—and the Opposition had the opportunity of telling the House and the country what its policy was, and if it had one.

The recent purchase of 14 Skyhawk fighter-bombers from the United States under a special military credit arrangement was a very bad decision, said Mr A. J. Faulkner (Lab., Roskill). “The Government has left this money lying idle for two years and then it buys almost obsolescent strike aircraft,” he said. Mr Faulkner' moved an amendment asking the House to urge the Government to adopt Labour’s defence policy, listed as follows; A capacity to defend New

Zealand t 6 the limit pf her ability. The taking of every practical step to ensure territorial security, security ' for channels of trade and development as an independent, though co-operative, nation.

The negotiation of mutual defence systems with other United Nations members and a capacity to meet the general provisions of existing defence treaty commitments. Regular career forces that included the capacity to move at short notice, and to give constructive assistance with social and economic problems, particularly in South-East Asia and the Pacific. The Speaker was not able to put the amendment to the House because the time limit for the debate had expired.