87th National Conference

	The flags and ensigns are formally marched on at the beginning of the conference.

David Cox, National President of the RNZRSA addressed the more than 350 attendees at the 87th RNZRSA National Council meeting at Wellington on 9 June 2003. The following are extracts from his address:

On behalf of our Vietnam veterans and their families, RNZRSA thanks government for acting rapidly on this extremely sensitive issue and looks forward to an early outcome that will, once and for all, settle the question.

It is hoped that a positive result will see more swift government action in providing adequate medical treatment and financial assistance to those veterans and their families suffering from the effects of their service in Vietnam.

Prime Minister, it is disappointing that three consecutive governments and three Ministers of Veterans’ Affairs have taken so long to come up with even a partial answer on the Veterans Health Card, virtually consigning the original proposal permanently into the “too hard” basket.

Our disappointment is all the more intense because, for nigh-on four years, this country’s war veterans, the majority of whom have now reached 80 years of age, have lived in expectation – only to have those expectations dashed by your statement here today. They do not deserve this treatment.

Your announcement that a proposed programme, which seemingly will only go some way towards satisfying some of the conditions outlined in submissions made by RNZRSA, and the veterans of the Korean, Malayan and Vietnam conflicts, is certainly welcomed. But, sadly, it does appear that what is envisaged to take the place of the proposed VHC will bear little resemblance to the benefits called for in the original submissions.

Recently elements of both major political parties have suggested that the time could be coming when New Zealand should readdress the country’s anti-nuclear stance. Taking account of those statements, RNZRSA included such questions in a wide-ranging survey of the membership undertaken for us by A C Nielsen, a reputable independent market research company.

There was a definite “no” to nuclear weapons being brought into New Zealand and its environs, but an overwhelming “yes” to the question of nuclear propelled vessels visiting our ports.

And now, turning to defence matters, this organisation remains bitterly disappointed and still shudders at the demise of the air combat capability of our Air Force.

Pleased as we are that new vessels are about to be ordered for the Royal New Zealand Navy, we are still of the considered opinion that New Zealand needs an absolute minimum of three frigates. Two combat capable ships do not under any circumstances make a credible operational maritime force.

On the other hand it is pleasing to see government’s policy of some re-equipping of the Defence Forces is close to reality with the imminent arrival of the first LAVs for the Army.

It is also great to see the Air Force’s Boeing 757s on line. Even if they are ten years old, they will give the Defence Force much greater capability in moving troops, and their gear, when ever necessary, further and faster than has been the case in the past.

Paying their respects to those who have died in past wars were (right to left) Major General Peter Phillips, National President the Returned & Services League of Australia, David Cox, National President RNZRSA, and Colonel Matereti Sarasau President of the Returned & Ex-Servicemen's Association of Fiji.

This association, as with the RSL in Australia, would have preferred a United Nations mandate for the recent military action in Iraq, but in the event, the reality of war had to be faced. And therefore, RNZRSA’s total and unequivocal support was with the troops, the young men and women who served in the coalition forces.

And here let me pay tribute to the sterling job done by New Zealand’s Defence Forces during that long and arduous peacekeeping operation in East Timor. Over three years, our servicemen and women acquitted themselves in a way that ensured that they made a significant and lasting contribution to easing the birth pangs of the world’s newest nation. The local population will remember them as true friends and allies.

But there is a downside to the obvious success of New Zealand’s deployments to East Timor that is of real concern – and that is the parlous state of the Territorial Force. A decade ago the TF strength stood at over 5000, today it has shrunk to about 1900.

Without the addition of TF personnel it would have been extremely difficult for the Army to man the six-battalion groups, which helped the formation of the new and struggling nation of Timor Leste. Some 460 Territorials served alongside their Regular Force comrades contributing 10 to 18 per cent of each rotation.

The primary issue appears to be that employers are not well enough informed as to what the Territorial Force is all about and its place in the in the security of New Zealand. It is therefore pleasing to see Army initiating a programme of TF employer support and education. We wish them well in their endeavours to rebuild the Territorial Force into an efficient and fully-manned organisation, respected and supported by both employers and the nation.

The Royal New Zealand Returned Services’ Association regrets that a High Court injunction has halted work on the establishment of the Tomb of the Unknown Warrior at the National War Memorial and that the planned State funeral and interment will not now take place on Armistice Day this year.

This organisation is not fighting the “Smoke Free” legislation on so-called “smokers’ rights”, or “non-smokers’ rights”, we are fighting it on “members’ rights”. Rather than being told by government you can’t do this or do that within your own clubrooms - members should have the choice, so that each individual RSA’s membership has the right and responsibility to decide what happens within their clubrooms.

To help meet the original suggested legislation, RSAs and other hospitality premises have spent hundreds of thousands of dollars on improving air quality through the installation of hi-tech air conditioning and air filtration plants.

In association with the option of members’ choice, we believe that setting minimum air quality standards, to apply right across the hospitality sector, is a reasonable and sensible solution to the Select Committee’s concerns.

We ask the Committee to take note of this obvious option.

It is pleasing to see the judiciary, over the last twelve months, is now setting much longer non-parole periods for serious crime offenders who have shown no mercy to their victims.

I repeat what was said last year, the payment for taking a life must be imprisonment for the term of the criminal’s natural life – anything short of that becomes a gratuitous insult to the victim, his or her loved ones and the whole community.

There is also the question of multiple offences, where those responsible are sentenced to concurrent terms of imprisonment irrespective of the number of proven charges. It is farcical that in reality they are paying the price for only one offence when they have committed several. If they do the crime, they must do the time – cumulatively.

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