M.P.s resigned to ship purchase

Press, 6 September 1989, Page 2

M.P.s resigned to ship purchase

By

BRENDON BURNS

in Wellington

An air of resignation that the Government will buy Anzac frigates has settled over the Labour Party, before tomorrow’s Government caucus meeting.

With Monday’s Cabinet session having reportedly endorsed the deal, antifrigate activists yesterday seemed to be going through the motions of continuing to oppose the purchase. A member of the Labour Party’s consultative committee on foreign affairs and security, Ms Kate Boanas, of Christchurch, remains in Wellington. She said consultations with Cabinet ministers were still in progress. These were confidential and she could not comment further. The committee’s chairman, Mr Chris Tremewan, has returned to Christchurch. Mr Harry Duynhoven, (Nat., New Plymouth) said the Government caucus had to weight up the political and technical merits of Anzac frigates. He has been an active promoter of the cheaper Danish IS 86 frigates, which three weeks ago seemed to have captured the imagination of the caucus. Mr Duynhoven yesterday said that the choice for Labour M.P.s was simple. “Do we have a Navy which has a high-tech state-of-the-art warship? Or do we equip the Nayy with more vessels of a similar size, less sophisticated but with an ability to be upgraded?” Another Labour M.P., who has spoken out against frigates, yesterday was equivocal about whether he would reject the deal to be recommended by the Cabinet to tomorrow’s caucus meeting. He said he would wait and see what details emerged. Ms Sonja Davies, chair-

woman of the Parliamentary Foreign Affairs and Defence committee, said yesterday that a good defence relationship could still be maintained with Australia without Anzac frigates. A block Cabinet vote in favour of the Australian ships seems likely to secure participation in the project, if a vote is taken tomorrow. The Prime Minister, Mr Palmer, has suggested that a decision might not emerge until next week. Tomorrow’s Government caucus meeting is likely to spend much of its time hearing from the Minister of Defencee, Mr Tizard. He will report on his negotiations in Canberra last week on the price New Zealand is expected to pay for Anzac frigates. A deal for two frigates, with an option for two more, was agreed, subject to confirmation. The price is understood to be about $370 million per ship, including a share of project costs, maintenance and spares. This will be spread over a 15 to 20-year period. The only question mark remaining over confirmation of the deal is the absence of a number of Cabinet Ministers overseas. Four ministers out of 19 in the Cabinet — Mrs Shields, Mr Cullen, Mr Moore and Mr Marshall — are away. Only Mrs Shields could be back for tomorrow’s vote. ' Two members of the wider Government caucus who oppose Anzac frigates — Mr Trevor Mallard and Mr David Robinson — are also overseas. The East Cape M.P., Ms Anne Collins, is also expected to be absent.