Defence chief savages cash grab

By FRANCESCA MOLD political reporter

The Chief of Defence Force has attacked the behaviour of several high-ranking officers blamed for attempts by the Army to influence politicians and secure the largest portion of Government funding for itself.

Air Marshal Bruce Ferguson yesterday released a much-delayed report by Colin Carruthers, QC, into allegations of a conspiracy to advance the Army at the expense of the Navy and Air Force.

The report identified errors of judgment.

But it found no evidence that a letter written in 1997 by Ian Gordon, then a lieutenant-colonel, proposing that the Army open a "second front" in the war for money was acted upon or was part of the Service's overall policy.

But contradicting the findings of the rather mild report, Air Marshal Ferguson said he believed there was an inappropriate attitude within the Army in the late 1990s.

He cited the hiring of public relations firm Communications Trumps to lobby and "gain the upper hand".

He blamed former Army chief Maurice Dodson for not stamping out the "attitude". "It was a failure of leadership at the highest level."

But because Major-General Dodson had retired, no action would be taken against him.

Air Marshal Ferguson said Colonel Gordon had been severely censured and his career in the Defence Force would probably be limited because of his behaviour.

"I've left him in no doubt of my displeasure," said the Air Marshal.

The report said Colonel Gordon made a significant error of judgment.

"The themes the letter advances are quite out of step with the role of the armed forces, and the language used was ill-chosen, divisive, antagonistic and sometimes brutal," said Air Marshal Ferguson, mirroring words in the Carruthers report.

The report found that another senior officer, Brigadier Ian Marshall, lied when asked if he had leaked the Gordon letter last year.

"The short point is that Brigadier Marshall lied to me deliberately," said Mr Carruthers.

Brigadier Marshall later admitted giving the report to former Deputy Secretary of Defence Robin Johansen, who gave it to the National Party.

Brigadier Marshall was censured by former Defence Force Chief Carey Adamson and has since left the military.

Air Marshal Ferguson said yesterday that other officers would be "counselled" for their role in supporting the improper advancement of the Army or for not exposing the problem.

Speaking publicly for the first time, General Dodson condemned Air Marshal Ferguson's comments as a "total contradiction" of the report's findings, which he believed cleared him and other officers.

"I can't answer why he has done this," he said.

It was unfair to blame one individual for internal tensions created by competition for very limited resources, he said.

General Dodson also came under fire in a separate report into his obtaining New Zealand First MP Ron Mark's military files.

The files contained information about Mr Mark's 30-year-old conviction for underage sex when he was a teenager, which was made public in December.

Allegations were made in Parliament that the information had been used in an attempt to stifle Mr Mark's criticism of the Army.

Air Marshal Ferguson yesterday apologised to Mr Mark.

He said General Dodson had committed no military offence, but his actions were wrong.

Air Marshal Ferguson said he had recommended that Mr Mark take his concerns to police if he felt he had been wronged. The Defence Force would co-operate.

Mr Mark said he was pleased with the apology, but was seeking advice from his lawyers about possible further action.

General Dodson said the report confirmed that he acted within his authority when he looked at the files. But he was happy to apologise to Mr Mark.

"If I had realised he was so sensitive I wouldn't have looked at it."

He denied any attempt to blackmail Mr Mark.

The bitter battle for Wellington

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