f*A       TRACT FROM THE MINUTES OF THE.....§R3&
:etinq of the...........SSUL.........held........$A:.<3^ k
2• M1W ZEALAND DE^EUCE CC^^llEHCE, 1959.
(O.D.C. Psrper No. 17431.
THE COMMITTEE had under consideration a Note
by the Secretary covering Part I of the Report of the
New Zealand Defence Conference, 1939, (O.D.C, Paper
No. 1743).
MR LEE said that the Committee had been asked
to advise on the recommendations made by the Conference
in Part I, Section 2 of the:.r Heport. These
recommendations were summarised in paragraph 69, and he
suggested the Committee should consider them in turn.
(a) Fiji.
(i) Defence Force.
CONCLUSION (1).
THE COMMITTEE agreed:-
(a) To endorse the recommendation of the
Conference that the Fiji Defence
Force should be expanded to one
complete composite battalion at
Suva, and two European Companies
at Lautoka.
(b) To invite the War Office to investigate
the possibility of providing the
machine guns and small arms
ammunition required for the expansion.
(iii) Coast Defences for_J5uya,
MR. LEE explained that the Committee had
previously discussed a suggestion to provide two
6-inch guns for Suva, and had expressed their views in
O.D.C. Minute No. 334»     The Conference had been aware of
the views of the Oversea Defence Committee, but had
nevertheless recommended that the guns should be
installed, and their recommendation had been endorsed
by the Chiefs of Staff.     The Oversea Defence
Committee, therefore, had no option but to accept the
recommendation, and to consider v/hether it could be
implemented.
CAPTAIN BUDGEN said that the Admiralty had not
had time to investigate fully the availability of guns
and &BEunitioxi«     It was certain, however, that there was
no cordite available in Australia.
CAPTAIN GRAHAM said that the original idea had
been that two guns should be taken for Suva from
Auckland.   The Conference had been informed that these
guns were not available, and Admiral Colvin had telegraphed
to find out whether guns were available at Sydney.
He had told the Conference that he had heard in reply
that two guns could be made available, and this
accounted for the recommendation which they had made,
MR. GILBERT,in reply to an enquiry by MR. LEE,
said that if there were any question of buying guns
it would be necessary to examine the principle of who was
responsible for the defence of the Island. Fiji
could not pay for these defences, and it seemed only
reasonable that New Zealand and Australia should share
in the cost.
CAPTAIN EDELSTBN said that the Admiralty could
examine further the position regarding ^uns.     If it were
decided that two of the guns held in Australia should be
m»de available }*ho-qucstion ot payncnt would later have
to "be decided.
MAJOR FRITH said that the provision of searchlights
would require further examination.     The requirements
of Suva could not "be placed very high in the order of
priority.
CONCLUSIONS
THE COMMITTEE agreed:
(a) To recommend that Suva should "be
classified as a defended port
Category 'A'.
(b) To recomnend that the ^cale of coast
defences should he two 6-inch guns
and two searchlights*
(c) That the provision of these coast
defences should be considered by the
Departments concerned, in relation
to the requirements of other ports,
and the stocks of material available.
(d) To take note that specialist personnel
would be provided by New Zealand and
that the remainder of the personnel to
man the defences would be raised
locally in Fiji.
(iv)   Landing Grounds.
MR. LEE said that in O.D.C. Minute Ho. 334 the
Committee had suggested that the provision of landing
facilities at Fiji was desirable, but that possibly
one landing ground would be sufficient* They had also
proposed that the ccst should be shared between the Gcvernnierrs
of Australia and New Zealand* The report of the Conference
showed that there were good reasons for constructing two
landing grounds, and that Australia was not prepared to
take any part in paying for their construction. The
Chiefs of Staff supported the recommendation of the
Conference.
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VYING COMMANDER FOSTER said that, for operational
reasons, it was clear that two landing grounds would
be required.     The first long range aircraft would
arrive in New Zealand in September, and they would no
doubt require to use these landing grounds for
training flights.     At a later stage some revenue
might "be secured from civil aviation using the
landing facilities.     Taking   all things into account,
£28,000 did not appear to be an unreasonable
contribution from the United Kingdom Government.
A discussion then took place as to whether it
was the responsibility of the united Kingdom or of
New Zealand to defend Fiji.     On the one hand, it
was argued that Fiji should be defended as an outpost
of the general defence system of New Zealand, and the
Government of the latter country should therefore
make itself responsible for the expenditure involved*
On the other hand, it was pointed out that the
view held in New Zealand was that the United Kingdom
had no right to leave an island of the importance of
Fiji in such an undefended state that it constituted
a menace to the security of New Zealand.
THE COMMITTEE finally accepted the view that
the cost of landing grounds at Fiji could fairly
be charged to the Governments of the United Kingdom
and New Zealand in equal amounts*
ME. GILBERT enquired what was the meaning of
the suggestion In paragraph 44 of the report, that the
extra capital copts incurved over and above New
Zealand's present programme should be shared equally
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by the United Kingdom and Hew Zealand,
CAPTAIN GRAHAM explained that the New Zealand
present programme only covered the provision of aircraft.
It had "been iinplied at the Conference
that the United Kingdom should pay for half the cost
of the construction of the landing grounds, but not
for the provision of petrol, bombs, etc*   These would
form part of the reserves to be provided by New
Zealand.
MR. WATKEIiSTON said that the Governor of Fiji
had agreed to provide for the maintenance of the landing
grounds, which was estimated to cost 51,500 a year*
He then explained to the Committee, in general terms,
the financial position in Fiji, as a result of which it
appeared that the Government of Fiji should be p.ble to
pay for the expansion of the Defence Force and the provision
of the coast defence personnel, pro'idea that the voluntary
contribution of £5,000 to Imperial Defence v/as
discontinued.     No sums had yet been set aside for the
R.N.V.R. Unit but this v/as not likely to be very
costly,
MR. LEE said that the revenue of Fiji was
dependent to a very large extent upon trade in sugar
and copra, both of which commodities were somewhat
depressed.     It apx>eared, therefore, that it v/ould be
reasonable not to ask the Government of Fiji to pay
more than they proposed, (i.e, approximately £18,000 a
year which should coves? the annual 008t of the defence
forces of all kinds.     Large itesis of capital expenditure
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would have to be found from other sources.
CONCLUSION (3).
THE COMMITTEE agreed
(a) To recomuend that the construction
of two landing grounds in Fiji
should he carried out, and that
the cost of constructing these
landing grounds should be shared
equally between the Governments of
the United Kingdom and New Zealand.
(b) Tonga.
(i) Defence Force.
MR. LEE said that the High Commissioner for the
Western Pacific had suggested the raising of a defence
force of one Company at Tonga, and this recommendation
had been endorsed by the Conference.     The Committee
would be aware that the Governments of the United
Kingdom and Tonga were bound by a Treaty under which we
undertook to defend Tonga.     The Colonial Office could
not contemplate the exercise of pressure
on    the Government of Tonga to provide a defence force,
if such action were likely in any way to impair
friendly relations between the two Governments. The
High Commissioner had indicated that the Queen of
Tonga appeared willing to play her part in assisting
in defence measures, but the question of money would
probably prove a difficulty.     If a landing ground were
established in Tonga, it would certainly be desirable
to raise a small defence force to guard it, though he
doubted whether the United Xingdom Government should
contribute anything towards the cost*     They might,
however, provide the necessary arms.
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I
MAJOR FRITH agreed that if it proved
possible to raise a defence force the small amount
of arms and amnunition required could p-obably be provided,
subject to Treasury sanction, though their maintenance and
replacement would bo -olio responsibility of the localGovermmt.
MR. WATHERSTON said that the total budget of
Tonga was only £65,000 a year, so that an expenditure
of £5,000 a year to maintain a defence force would
represent a considerable effort on the part of the
Government of Tonga*     The High Commissioner might be
authorised to sound the Government of Tonga on the
subject of raising the proposed Company.
CONCLUSIONS (4).
THE CX)MU1TTES agreed:-
(a) To recoinr.:-end that a defence force,
consisting of one Infantry Company,
should be provided if possible at
Tonga , with the proviso that the
cost of raising and maintaining the
Company apart from the initial provision
or arms, ammunition and war equipment
should be borne by the Government of Tonga.
(b) To invite the Colonial Office to
instruct the Hitfi Commissioner for
the Western Pacific to approach the
Government of Tonga with a view to
the formation of a Company, on the
terms set out in Conclusion (a)
above*
(c) To take note that in the event of a
Company being formed at Tonga the
rifles and v/eb equipment required
would be provided by the Government
of New Zealand, and the machine guns
and small arms ammunition would be
provided by the War Office,
(ii) Landing grounds.
CONCLUSION (5 ).
THE COMMITTEE agreed:-
To take note that the New Zealand
Government would undertake surveys
of possible sites for emergency
landing grounds in Tonga*
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(£) Fanning Island,
(i) Garrison.
MR. LEE said the Committee would recall that
when they previously discussed a proposal from the
Government of New Zealand to station a garrison at
Fanning Island in peace-time, they had deprecated
the proposal on various grounds, set out in 0oD*C.
Minute No. 334.    Nevertheless, the Conference had
recommended the stationing of one fla.toon at Fanning
Island, and the Chiefs of Staff had endorsed the
recommendation.     It had not, hov/ever, yet been accepted
"by the New Zealand Government.
CAPTAIN GRAHAM said that a member of the staff
of the High Commissioner for the Western Pacific,who
had been present at the Conference, had informed them
that he had lived for about a year at Fanning Island,
and that it would be no hardship to the troops to be
stationed there.     The amenities would not be entirely
lacking, and water and food could be arranged.     A ship
called there every three months, and this would enable
personnel to be relieved periodically*
MR. LEE said that the Colonial Office saw no
objection to the proposal, provided that the whole cost was
borne by the New Zealand Government.
CAPTAIN GRAHAM said that from the discussion at
the Conference it appeared that the New Zealand
Government were prepared to pay the whole cost.
CONCLUSIONS (6).
THE COMMITTEE agreed:-
(a) To recoi:imend that the proposal by the
Conference that one Platoon from
New Zealand should be stationed at
Fanning Island in time of peace should
be   welcomed, on the understanding that
the cost of the necessary arrangements
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for the reception of the garrison,
and for its subsequent maintenance . would
be    borne by the New Zealand
Government.
(b) To take note that the High Commissioner
for the Western Pacific was taking
up with the Cable and Plantation
Companies the question of increasing
the food reserves for their staffs et
Fanning Island to a supply sufficient
for a minimum period of six months.
(e) Ocean, and Nauru Islands.
(1) Food Reserves,
CONCLUSION (7).
THE COMMITTEE agreed:-
To take note that the High Commissioner
for the Western Pacific was talcing up
with the British Phosphate Commissioners
the question of providing emergency food
reserves for their staff to ensure supplies
for a minimum period of six months.
(ii) Arms and Ammunition.
MR. WATHERSTON said that the Colonial Office
had under discussion with the War Office the provision
of rifles for the Gilbert and El lice Islands, and they
could together clear up the matter raised by the
Conference.
CONCLUSION (8).
THE COMMITTEE agreed:-
That the provision of the extra arms ani
ammunition recommended by the Conference
for Ocean Island should be settled by the
War Office and the Colonial Office in
consultation.
(f) New Hebrides.
MR. WATHERSTON said that the High Commissioner
for the Western Pacific was at the moment visiting the
Nov/ Hebrides and the French authorities in New Caledonia,
nnd would no doubt furnish a report*
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CONCLUSION (9)
THE COMMITTEE agreed :•-
To defer consideration of the
recommendations of the Conference
with regard to the New Hebrides
until   a   report had "been received
from the High Commissioner for the
Western Pacific, after his
consviltation with the French authorities.
CONCLUSION (10).
THE COMMITTEE agreed:-
To instruct the Secretary to prepare
a Minute containing the views of the
Committee as expressed at the meeting.
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