AIR DEFENCE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 228, 27 September 1938, Page 11

AIR DEFENCE.

RUMOUR DENIED.

NO SPECIAL MEASURES.

STATEMENT BT MINISTER.

(Hy TVlcjrrar>h.—rress Association.)

DUNEDIN, Monday.

A denial of a rumour current in Wellington today that special air defence precautions were being taken by the (hivp'nment at the present time was i,iri.li> l.y tli«< Minister of Defence, the Hon. F. Jones, in an interview to-night.

"There i~ no truth in the rumour," the Minister "aid, "as at present there is ii" "ft "i 'iiTtimstancfs that would nofi'«««itfito special precautionary air defence measure* in New Zealand. The fiovcrnmeiit ecrtajnly docs not minimise

the scriou-nesH of the situation in Europe or it* possible effect on our own position, I.ut there is nothing just now to sugge-t a -tate of emergency here."

The Minister emphasised that steady progress H-d* being made with the Ooveniinenl's plum for the defence of the Dominion, which were linked up with the schemes of Empire defence. The three services. Navy, Army and Air Force were coordinated under the Council of Defence, of which the Prime Minister, Mr. Sa\age, was chairman, and this would ensure that if an emergency did ari-e each would be able to play its part effectively and in proper relation to the other*.