Re: Roger Rabbits' column ‘Society's priorities up the
wazoo' (The Weekend Sun, April 29). I'm not sure of the motive for your comments on defence expenditure two weeks ago Rabbit? Was it to stir up some reaction, as I think you are too sensible to really believe what you wrote.
Defending our borders and sovereignty are the first responsibility of a government, and this country spends only one per cent of GDP on defence. Compare this with two per cent for Australia, and three per cent for the UK.
The recently completed SAS facility at Ardmore is essential if we're going to defend ourselves against terrorism.
Our armed services are also involved in peace-keeping missions such as Sinai, Iraq, Solomon Islands and East Timor.
I agree the bathtubs/fi sheries patrol boats the Clark Government substituted for two frigates are inadequate for their role in fi sheries and ensuring the safety of a huge area of ocean.
The National Government in the 1990s had actually ordered four frigates, to be made in Australia, two were later cancelled. Likewise the demolition of our fighter capability in the airforce; and the loss of highly qualified air crew to Australia and the UK.
After the Battle of Crete in 1942, then New Zealand Prime Minister Peter Fraser stated that never would NZers be asked to fi ght again, without air protection provided by NZ.
His political successor in 2000 could not wait to get rid of a replacement lease for the obsolete Skyhawks.
The money then got spent on more than 100 Light Amoured Vehicles, which were unfi t for use in the Pacific, and could only be used in Afghanistan once roads were formed.
It is not just the amount of money spent, but the quality of the expenditure, just like all other areas of state expenditure.
The big three - health, social welfare and education - gain the lion's share of money, leaving just a few crumbs for the defence of our nation, which is expected to remain at one per cent of GDP.
That includes personnel costs as well as capital purchases, to remain compatible with our Allies.

A Owen, Katikati.