Council agrees to nuclear ships

Press, Volume CXVI, Issue 34127, 13 April 1976, Page 22

Council agrees to nuclear ships

Ute Christchurch City Council would not object if the Government chose Lyttelton as the port of call for American nuclear-powered warships.

Last evening, the council, on a 10-8 Vote, defeated a motion by Cr Vicki Buck that called for complete opposition to such visits. Cr Buck said there were no guaranteed safeguards against accidents.

“What is even more frightening to me is that they are nuclear-armed,” cr Buck said. “We can’t just sit back and do nothing.”

Cr J. F. Bum said he supported the motion, but it was “quite hopeless,” and similar to the small English newspaper that kept “warning the Kaiser” through its editorials before World War I. He added that the council “should not increase the chances of things going wrong” by refusing to oppose visits. Cr Helen Garrett said it was “a. silly motion” and there was no need to be frightened of nuclear power. “I look forward to the dav when Cr Buck hurls herself under the bow of the first nuclear warship to enter Lyttelton Harbour,” she said. Councillors on both sides of the issue made it clear they did not appreciate that remark.

He would go along with nuclear - powered vessels “with some reluctance,” Cr P. J. R. Skellerup said. New Zealand needed to respect the A.N.Z.U.S. treaty, and remain strong to defend its freedom.

Cr D. F. Caygill said he was concerned about nuclear

power risks, but he was more concerned about the spread of nuclear weapons into the South Pacific.