‘Switzerland’ under Socred

Press, 16 July 1983, Page 7

‘Switzerland’ under Socred

PA Wellington - New Zealand would become a “Switzerland of the South Seas” under a Social Credit government, according to Socred’s defence spokesman, Commander Dick Ryan. An economics and de-fence-related policy would turn this country into an investment centre and a safe-house. But economic change would have to be brought about before a concept of armed neutrality and nuclear-free zoning could be introduced, he said. New Zealand would first have to be self-sufficient in

energy, have an independent trading stance in the form of bilateral and trilateral arrangements; and have a financial system independent of the International Monetary Fund. “Once you have negotiated an independent economy, you can declare a neutral defence stance. Once you have declared a neutral defence stance you are at the beck and call of an enormous amount of free investment,” he said.

Social Credit would restructure the military in New Zealand in two ways, said Mr Ryan. The Navy and Air Force

would become a maritime defence force responsible for policing the zone, and the Army would change its “expeditionary force inwaiting” role. Soldiers would be trained as self-sufficient commando units with a special emphasis placed on amphibious, airborne, and mountain expertise. Mr Ryan did not foresee any need for large increases in spending on military hardware.

“The Air Force and Navy will end up with a similarsized force to the one they have today,” he said. There would need to be

extra facilities, however, including an underwater detection system and the use of a satellite system which would be shared by other South Pacific countries.

Another key part of Socred defence policy was a total withdrawal from A.N.Z.U.S., including the complex web of agreements which bind member countries.

Mr Ryan considered that New Zealand would be no great loss to the United States Military strategy, and the United States intelligence on which this country relied would be no great loss to New Zealand.