British warn of defence cuts

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33539, 21 May 1974, Page 2

British warn of defence cuts

(New Zealand Press Association)

WELLINGTON, May 20.

The British Minister of State for Defence (Mr Rodgers) met the Prime Minister (Mr Kirk) for informal talks this afternoon, and later had a discussion with the Minister of Defence (Mr Faulkner).

Mr Faulkner said in an interview later that he had told Mr Rodgers that New Zealand did not regard its presence in Singapore as “an open-ended commitment, but we feel that in view of the situation at present we need to stay a little longer.” "Our view is that SouthEast Asia as a whole recognises that changes are inevitable, and in fact in some instances desirable. However, we are anxious that these should be at an absorbable rate, so that the countries can gear themselves to look after their own affairs.” Asked what views Mr Rodgers had expressed about future commitments, Mr Faulkner said Mr Rodgers had made it clear he was "here to listen to our views.”

This morning, at a press conference, Mr Rodgers said

that Britain’s Labour Government expected to make even bigger cuts in defence spending than it did in 1968. The British Government is reviewing defence spending, and Mr Rodgers is in New | Zealand to hear views on the British presence in the Far East, and particularly on the five-Power arrangement in Singapore. He has already visited Malaysia and Singapore. He will go to Australia tomorrow. He said the size of Brit-

ain’s defence expenditure

Art certificate

Miss Eamonn Stockman, of Lyttelton West School, was one of five New Zealanders awarded a certificate of merit at the children’s art exhibition at the Commonwealth Institute, London, earlier this year. Miss Stockman was also presented with a booklet about the Commonwealth Institute.

must be reviwed against other commitments, the balance of payments, and the economic situation, “with a very clear understanding that we are to make very substantial savings.” The defence budget was now about £3500 million, and the sort of savings they were looking for on that figure were larger than any considered before.

The previous Labour Government decided in 1968 to reduce Britain’s military commitment on the ground east of Suez, while maintaining the ability to move forces out by air. The review in 1968 had not involved savings “of the size we are now talking about,” Mr Rodgers said.

He expected the • British Government to make decisions about October. “The Government has made it clear that our Commonwealth links should be taken proper account of and be sustained,” he added.