Dependence on imported defence equipment

Press, 9 June 1980, Page 2

Dependence on imported defence equipment

New Zealand’s Armed Forces are seriously disadvantaged by the country’s dependence on imported defence equipment, according to the Chief of the Defence Staff (Vice-Admiral N. D. Anderson). Speaking at the seminar, Admiral Anderson said that efforts were being intensified to encourage New Zealand industry to produce more defence equipment. Although advances had been made in the industrial and manufacturing sectors, and energy resources offered bright prospects, the inadequacy of. New Zealand’s industrial base to provide

the defence support required would remain a serious disadvantage, he said. Co-operation with Australia was aimed at increasing self-sufficiency in defence supply to strengthen the regional strategic base and reduce the vulnerability of our lines of communication. , Constraints on defence spending; were expected to i remain for some time, and New Zealand would be I forced to continue to spend [ large sums of scarce over- , seas funds on essential 1 defence equipment and the training of personnel to service and operate them. : Admiral Anderson was

also concerned about the loss to the Armed Services of skilled and experienced manpower. More than 60 per cent of the Defence budget was spent on personnel. This produced highly skilled and tested staff who were sought after by the civilian market. Although recruiting levels were satisfactory, there was an outflow from all three services at the highly trained level.

Too large an imbalance could lower the over-all experience level of the Armed Forces and in some areas could seriously affect basic capabilities, Admiral Anderson said.