MR EYRE RETURNS N.Z. To Give More To Defence

Press, Volume CV, Issue 30977, 5 February 1966, Page 3

MR EYRE RETURNS N.Z. To Give More To Defence

(New Zealand Press Association)

WELLINGTON, February 4.

The Defence Minister (Mr Eyre) returned tonight from the Canberra defence talks with assurances that Britain intends to remain in South-east Asia as long as possible.

He confirmed that Britain’s apparent desire that New Zealand and Australia share the common defence burden will cost this country’s taxpayers more, but did not give an indication of how much.

“No specific manpower or cost figures were asked for in these discussions,” the Minister emphasised.

Mr Eyre, speaking at a press conference, described the two-day talks with the British Defence Minister (Mr Healey) and Australian officials as a broad general discussion in which no commitments were sought or made. The Secretary of External Affairs (Mr A. D. Mclntosh) who returned from Australia earlier today said the talks were “a great mark of confidence among allies.”

Mr Eyre said the main concern of New Zealand and Australia had been to get Britain's assurance that any defence cut-back would not be too heavy in the areas affecting the two countries. -Mr Healey was emphatic in his assurance that Britain intends to stay in South-east Asia as long as she can.” Mr Eyre said there were no surprises for him at the talks. He recalled it was stated in Canberra that Britain was spending more of its gross national product on defence than any other country except the United States.

Asked whether New Zealand might try to equal Australia's defence expenditure, Mr Eyre said the whole question for this country was one for the Government to decide after advice of the Defence Council on what was required.

Questioned about the possibility of British defence facilities similar to Singapore being sited in Darwin, Mr Eyre said no mention was made of any particular location.

“There was just tbe suggestion that an alternate base should be considered.” The Minister was asked if New Zealand would have to contribute to a base in Australia. “The inference is there that we would, but there was no discussion on that point” Mr Eyre said. Mr Healey said Britain would co-operate completely, with Australia and New Zealand, if Britain had to withdraw from South-east Asia. “But he repeatedly emphasised that Britain is in the area at the moment to keep the security of Commonwealth nations,” said Mr Eyre. Mr Eyre was asked about reports of extensive talks with America by New Zealand, Australia and Britain on the British proposal for a joint collective force for peace-keeping operations in the Indo-Pacific and Southeast Asian regions. He said it was expected that discussions would continue this year, but gave no specific dates or the level at which talks will be conducted. Asked to elaborate on the collective force and to say whether it meant a new grouping of alliances, the Minister replied: “The alliances are already there. Rather, it is for closer discussions, closer co-opera-tion, a more reasonable spread of the burden of manpower and cost.”

Mr Eyre was asked if he welcomed the change. “It is inevitable that New Zealand must play a larger part,” he replied. Britain, said Mr Mclntosh, was no longer able to take on the burden by itself. “Only the giants can do that.”

Mr Eyre was questioned as to whether he believed New Zealand was in a position to take on a greater defence burden.

“That has to be decided by the Government. No specific manpower or cost figures were asked for in these discussions,” he said. Asked whether the fact that the Prime Minister (Mr Holyoake) did not go to Australia had caused embarrassment, Mr Eyre said: “This conference was not called to make decisions or commitments.”