Nuclear weapons

Press, 20 April 1982, Page 20

Nuclear weapons

Sir,—On April 15, the Wellington City Council voted to declare Wellington and Port Nicholson a nuclear-free zone. Some notable personalities, among many, were in agreement with the decision. More and more people are waking up to the black facts of nuclear war and nuclear accidents. There is. a chance that a nuclear-powered ship could have an accident in one of our harbours. May I remind your readers of the Wahine disaster in 1968. If the Truxtun were to come to a similar fate, the result could be a massive radiation leakage and death for. thousands. We should not have to risk people’s lives to give some young American sailors a bit of “R and R” in honour of a treaty. Bill Rowling has said that we can honour the A.N.Z.U.S. treaty while maintaining a nuclear-free policy. This-is an issue on which we as a people can decide without its being a strain on our economic status—Yours, etc., . M. A. FIELDING. April 15, 1982.

Sir,—l am. glad Sir Michael Fowler would have no truck with the great “nuclear free” " confidence trick. The leading nuclear powers, China, Russia and the U.S.A. have long Pacific coastlines, so there is no hope of a nuclear-free ocean. With Russian submarines off the Falklands, there is no nuclear free Antarctic either. Litvinov said, “Peace is indivisible,” and he .was proved right; Neutrality did riot save Rotterdam in 1940, nor weakness the Chinese in the 19305. The Falkland Islands are the latest example of what happens to, a defenceless community. If we wish to retain our civil liberties, our freedom of speech, and press, we must face world problems squarely, not hiding behind useless declarations 7 of neutrality. — . Yours, etc., H. F. NEWMAN. April 17, 1982.