U.S. base remit defeated

Press, 1 September 1986, Page 8

U.S. base remit defeated

By

OLIVER RIDDELL

in Wellington

The Labour Government will not disband the United States military base at Harewood. A remit at the conference that it should do this, so the base could become a bona fide scientific research facility, was defeated quite comfortably. The conference passed a 15-part remit that sought withdrawal from A.N.Z.U.S., positive neutrality and no military alliances with superpowers or their blocs.

But it also approved the continuation of a close military relationship with Australia and South Pacific nations.

Delegates wanted the Government to hold a public inquiry into the military application of data gathered by the

United States Naval Observatory at Black Birch in Marlborough.

“Positive neutrality” was considered to incorporate active promotion of peace treaties with all nations and support both for a nuclear-free Pacific and for movements seeking self-determination throughout the Pacific Basin.

In spite of the opposition of the Minister of Defence, Mr O’Flyhn, the conference wanted an end to the military use of facilities and research work which contributed to the targeting, maintenance, deployment and transit of nuclear weapons.