Labour ‘would ask about N-weapons’

Press, 23 June 1981, Page 3

Labour ‘would ask about N-weapons’

PA Wellington A Labour Government. would seek from the Americans a policy of disclosing whether naval vessels planning to call al New Zealand ports were carrying nuclear weapons, the Leader of the Opposition (Mr Rowling) said . yesterday. Speaking at a press conference after talks with the American Secretary of State, Mr Alexander Haig, Mr Rowling referred to the Australian Government policy which demanded that the United States inform Canberra whenever 852 bombers using Darwin Airport were carrying nuclear weapons. The Australian Prime Minister (Mr Fraser) has said that he would not apply this policy to United States Navy ships, but Mr Rowling made it clear the New Zealand Labour Party in office would extend the demand to United Stales Navy vessels. He outlined Labour's

policy to Mr Haig — a policy which also included the point that a Labour Government would not ' permit United Stales nuclear-powered ships to call at New Zealand ports but would welcome conventional naval vessels and air- , craft. Under the Australian Government policy permission is given for aircraft carrying nuclear weapons to use Darwin Airport provided that the carrying of the weapons is considered in Australia’s national interest. Mr Rowling said that a Labour Government would seek to discuss such a move with the Americans and that Mr Haig had indicated a willingness to talk.' Mr Rowling said that he told the Secretary of State that his party in office would seek the support of other Pacific nations for the establishment of a South Pacific nuclear-weapon-free zone. He quoted a Labour policy

statement. which said: "Labour recognises that the effectiveness of such a zone is dependent upon the cooperation of all nuclear powers and will work within the A.N.Z.U.S. framework to achieve this goal.” The policy statement also declared that Labour noted that the terms of the ff.N.Z.U.S. treaty referred specifically to the Pacific Ocean, and therefore the party did not feel bound by it to join operations with treaty partners elsewhere in the world. • 1 ! Dealing with the American wish to involve New Zealand i in a Sinai peace-keeping force, Mr Rowling referred ! to a Labour policy statement ; by the shadow Minister of I Defence (Mr M. A. Connelly) • which appeared to back . away from a former ex- : pressed willingness to contribute to the United States- • r sponsored force.