Retired defence chief to appear at hearing

Press, 25 February 1986, Page 7

Retired defence chief to appear at hearing

By

MARTIN FREETH

in Wellington

One of the retired defence chiefs who spoke out publicly last October against the Government’s anti-nuclear policy will be among the first to make verbal submissions to the Defence Committee of Inquiry. The committee’s chairman, Mr Frank Corner, said yesterday that the first public hearing would be on March 6 in Wellington, and that LieutenantGeneral Sir Leonard Thornton was expected to be among the first to be heard.

Another expected to address the committee on that day is Sir Jack Hunn, a retired Secretary of Defence and public critic of the A.N.Z.U.S. pact. The committee is receiving submissions and preparing a report for the Government as the first, public, consultation phase of a defence policy review.

Sir Frank said his committee was pleased with the number of written submissions so far received. The closing date is this Friday. The number of submissions was one of the reasons the committee

would begin hearings so soon after the closing date, Sir Frank said. “Many of the submissions we have received have been thoughtful and detailed, and the committee will want to receive further elaboration at hearings.” The hearings will be open to the public. The timetable is: Wellington, March 6, 13 and 14; Auckland, March 19 and 20, April 9 and 10; and Christchurch, April 2 and 3.

Sir Frank said further hearings would be announced once all written submissions had been received.