ROUTINE ORDERS | EDITORIAL | EVENTS & REUNIONS
| 87368 | Maj R.A. Williamson | 18 Jan 00 at Wellington. |
| 1834 | R.J. Gunn | 30 Dec 99 at Rotorua. |
The following are elected life members on reaching the age of 80:
M McMahon, AFW Powrie.
Saturday 8 April 2000 at 1000hrs at the Birkenhead RSA. All members are welcome to attend.
Editorial
Defence of New Zealand, which has been steadily declining for decades, is reaching a crisis point. There are signs of renewal, with a new government, a new Minister and, in particular, a brand new Secretary of Defence.
This column has noted in the past the false assumptions on which official defence reviews have been based. These include the 'No Threat' delusion, the 'Moat Myth' ("We have the world's largest moat'), the 'Can't Afford It' syndrome, and the 'Yanks (or Somebody) Will Look After Us' illusion.
Such errors have resulted in a mission statement for the Defence Force which avoids any mention of actually defending the country. These matters are explained in an article, on the Four Fallacies of Defence, published in the NZ Herald of 2 Feb under the title of "We Couldn't Even Fight Our Way Out of a Paper Bag". Copies are available from the Secretary, NZPFOCA, on request.
The new administration started inauspiciously with the announcement that a reviewer had been appointed to carry out a review of the F-16 aircraft procurement, to be followed by an assessment of New Zealand's defence needs. The reviewer's method is to take the Defence Force vote as a Procrustean bed, use it to measure the Defence Force, then chop bits off the Force until it fits the vote. As "affordability" is made a governing factor, expensive items of essential firepower, such as the F-16s are the most vulnerable. The "niche" defence is, in fact, "nil" defence for the simple reason that no foe will restrict operations to the cheap "niche" areas selected.
These views have been conveyed to the Prime Minister and the Minister of Defence. There may be a turning point in that the wider defence assessment is now to be carried out by Mr G. Fortune, the new Secretary of Defence. The Minister says the "Defence Beyond 2000" report will be considered, but that we may be assured that other views, such as ours, will also be taken into account.
An opportunity, crucial to the defence of NZ, is therefore open to those of us happy few who have left the service, and have experience and training behind us, to express our views in a way which may tip the scales. Write to the Minister (The Hon. Mark Burton, MP, Parliament Buildings, Wellington (no postage required), fax: 04-495 8465) to support a balanced force, or alternatively, send a barbed shaft to the defence review when its details are published.
Make the point that attack on this country will come from across the sea or through the air, but probably both. It follows that we have to control the approaches to our main harbours, the airspace above our airports and main cities and, to be effective, defence systems must be able to inflict unacceptably high losses, regardless of the mode of attack. This cannot be done by warships which lack their main armament, an Air Force reduced to a transport role, or an army without coast, heavy AA, or sufficient field artillery. Take post.
Events & Reunions
In 1715, during the rebellion in Scotland, the system of drawing guns, assembling personnel and hiring horses and drivers to form a temporary "Train of Artillery" broke down. Therefore on 26 May 1716 King George I issued a Royal Warrant establishing two permanent artillery companies, increased to four in 1722, forming the Royal Regiment of Artillery. Hence this date is celebrated by the Royal Artillery as "Gunners Day", and likewise by the Royal Regiment of New Zealand Artillery. Events this year include:
At Papakura RSA on Fri 26 May. Time: 1800 for 1900hrs. Cost: $40 per head. Dress: Formal, with medals (at least jacket and tie). You get: pre-dinner sherry, dinner, table wine, port, music from the Band of the RNZA, after-dinner dancing. Attendance is limited to the first 200.
At Tauranga RSA on Fri 26 May. Time 1100 for 1200hrs. Cost: approx $12 per head. Contact: Matt Crawley, 2/159 16th Ave, Tauranga. Phone: 07-577 0502
At Birkenhead RSA on Thu 25 May. Time: 1100 for 1200hrs. Contact: Jim Ross, Sec PFOC Assn. Phone: 09-416 8662
This year heralds the 50th anniversary of New Zealand's commitment of forces to the United Nations in the repelling of aggression against the Republic of Korea. The New Zealand Korea Veterans Association (NZKVA) has appointed a Commemorative Committee to oversee the observance of significant events during the period June 2000 to July 2003 and possibly beyond. It is anticipated that CDS may well support a pilgrimage type revisit to Korea in 2001 similar to those of El Alamein, Crete and Italy. 16 Field Regiment RNZA is already designated to support the 16th NZKVA National Reunion at Palmerston North, 27-30 October 2000, the date in 1950 that the Regiment received its posting of personnel.
Veterans should be aware that costs will be involved if selected for any return to Korea on either the annual revisit programme or other pilgrimages, should such arise. The Korea Veterans Association host annual revisits during April. To be eligible, service in Korea or Korean waters between 25 June 1950 and 27 July 1953 and full membership of NZKVA are prerequisites. Five nights' accommodation, meals and visits to places of interest, including the New Zealand Memorial at Kapyong, are provided free of any charges. This is extended to include the immediate family of the veteran or surviving spouse and immediate family.
NZPFOCA members who served in Korea 1950-57 and are not members of a NZKVA Branch or the National HQ, are encouraged to become members by contacting the National Secretary General, Mr B. Goodhue, 17 Rosewarne Cres, Glendene, Auckland. Phone: 09-818 8359, fax: 09-818 8329.
This info comes from Les Pye, Secretary NZKVA.
This year is the 50th anniversary of the first intake going into camp. Events in commemoration include:
This info comes from the NZ Army Assoc Inc, 12 Kauri St, New Plymouth.
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