Nuclear ban provocative— Mr Bolger

Press, 19 December 1985, Page 6

Nuclear ban provocative— Mr Bolger

Legislation banning nuclear ships from New Zealand is provocative and unnecessary, according to the Deputy Leader of the Opposition, Mr Bolger. He said in Christchurch yesterday there was no doubt that New Zealand had the sovereign right to determine the conditions under which vessels could visit its ports. The Government had exercised that right since its election by banning ships of its allies from New Zealand ports. There was no need for the legislation introduced last week, he said.

The bill did no more than keep ships out of New Zealand ports. International law on the rights of free passage meant that nuclearpowered or nuclear-armed

vessels of New Zealand’s allies, and of the Eastern bloc, could sail without restriction within New Zealand’s territorial waters and through Cook Strait.

“The New Zealand legislation has not reduced by one the nuclear stockpile in the world, but it has increased tension in the South Pacific and by so doing has created instability rather than stability,” said Mr Bolger.

The Prime Minister was still trying to hid the truth that A.N.Z.U.S., as an effective alliance between the United States, Australia and New Zealand, was dead. “Whether it is decided to formally bury the treaty or leave it in a state of limbo is of little relevance,” Mr Bolger said.