N-ship ban ‘outrageous’

Press, 8 February 1986, Page 5

N-ship ban ‘outrageous’

NZPA staff correspondent Washington New Zealand’s ban on nuclear-armed warships has been attacked by the United States military. The Navy Secretary, Mr John Lehman, called the ban “outrageous” and “the height of irresponsibility.” “It is frankly outrageous,” said Mr Lehman in response to a question on the issue by a Republi-

can member of the House of Representatives and Armed Services Committee member, Ms Marjorie Holt, who visited New Zealand last month as part of the committee’s delegation. Mr Lehman said Washington had made it clear that the New Zealand policy to ban nucleararmed or nuclearpowered ships “was the height of irresponsibility.”

He stopped short of predicting the Administration’s response if the ban became law this year, but he said New Zealand "should learn there is a cost to that (the ship ban) over the long term.” The withdrawal of port facilities for United States ships was “particularly galling” because New Zealand enjoyed most favoured nation status which enabled it to sell lamb and butter to the Ameri-

cans at the expense of American farmers. Officials in Washington said that New Zealand sold only butter in Hawaii, and last year lost protection under the so-called “injury test” for its imports.

An extra countervailing duty was applied also to New Zealand lamb imports into the United States after pressure from American producers.