THE WAR EFFORT

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 60, Issue 303, 30 September 1940, Page 8

THE WAR EFFORT

CLOSER CO-OPERATION,

DOMINION AND AUSTRALIA

(Per Press Association

AUCKLAND, September 29

Well satisfied with the result of their mission', Major-General Sir John Duigan, 'Chief of the General Staff, and Group Captain H. W. L. Saunders, Chief of the Air Staff, returned from a brief visit to Australia by the flying-boat Awarua to-day. The object of their visit was to promote closer co-operation in the war effort of the two countries and both spoke gratefully of the ready helpfulness of all with whom they had been associated in Australia. “The visit will lead to closer cooperation in our plans-, and in every other way,” said Sir John Duigan. “We found everyone most hospitable and helpful from the Governor-General (Lord Gowrie) downwards, and they could not do enough for us.” Sir John spent a considerable part of his time at Army Headquarters in Melbourne in discussions with the General Staff and he also visited Duntroon Military College, where he found.that 16 New Zealand boys were doing very well and had won a good name for themselves. Sir John found the Australian authorities very wide awake to the needs of the present situation and most eager for co-operation with New Zealand. “A great many of them were commenting on the grand effort New Zealand is making, and so we are.” said Sir John.

Group Captain Saunders feels that the contacts he made with the Australian Air Force authorities will certainly be most helpful. “They have a very big Empire air training scheme in force there,” he said, and he visited

a number of the larger stations. “There are a lot of things we can learn from them and some perhaps they could learn from us. Their aircraft industry appears to ho expanding rapidly. We had useful discussions on details of co-operation.- The visit has been a groat success and I hope some of their representatives will be able to return it.”

Sir John Duigan and Group Captain Saunders returned to Wellington by train to-night and will present their reports to the War Cabinet at an early date.