M.P.’s survey finds frigate support

Press, 1 June 1989, Page 2

M.P.’s survey finds frigate support

By BRENDON BURNS in Wellington Strong support for buying Anzac frigates is evident in the Waitaki electorate, says its member of Parliament, Mr Jim Sutton. He recently mailed a questionnaire to a random sample of people on the electoral roll. Some 400 to the 2000 sampled have so far responded and more than 60 per cent believe New Zealand should have a bluewater Navy and forces that are compatible with Australia and other allies.

Mr Sutton said Waitaki people

did not seem impressed by the leasing concept being promoted by the Government. Less than a third favoured this as an alternative to buying. “This is a canny community,” said Mr Sutton, “and I can’t see them putting depreciating assets like frigates on the never-never.” Many of those who responded did qualify their opposition to leasing by indicating this depended on the terms and conditions.

Only 45 per cent of those who responded wanted cheaper ships with a more limited capability than frigates. Mr Sutton has personal re-

servations about whether hightech frigates are necessary and is yet to be persuaded in favour of the deal.

Yesterday, the Just Defence group said the briefing of Government M.P.’s by the Minister of Defence, Mr Tizard, had shown how difficult it was to justify the frigates. A spokesman, Mr Kevin Hackwell, said no new options were presented at Tuesday’s meeting and the Government was better to look at alternative ships than rehash old arguments for frigates. But support for the frigate project was expressed yesterday by manufacturers.

The Manufacturers Federation’s director-general, Mr Wally Gardner, said participation by New Zealand industry would mean a large part of the over-all cost spent here.

This included a share of the eight frigates being built for Australia, as well as up to four for New Zealand. The Defence Manufacturers Association’s chairman, Mr Neville Jordan, said participation offered New Zealand industry the opportunity for a big leap forward in technology and capability. “That would otherwise take many, many years to develop,” he said.