AIR MISSION'S VISIT.

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 16, 20 January 1939, Page 6

AIR MISSION'S VISIT.

The New Zealand Government no doubt welcomed the opportunity of a discussion with the British air misgion concerning aeroplane supply prospect*,, but it is surprising to learn, on the authority of the British Air Minister, that the question for discussion is that of "the possibilities of the manufacture of aircraft in New Zealand." Whose idea is this? It should not be necessary for a British mission to cross the T&sman to discuss such u question. Aeroplane construction presents technical problems of great complexity, even in highly industrialised countries. Industrially New Zealand is in the crawling stage, and it must learn to wal)c before it can hope to run, or fly. If the comprehensive plans of the Australian Government are fulfilled, not only munitions but aeroplanes in large numbers will be produced in the Commonwealth. As the defence problems of the Commonwealth and the Dominion are in many l'espects one problem, common sense seems to dictate that New Zealand should hrjp ir> advancing the Australian project and share in its production, instead of even contemplating the long, exp»v.:ive and possibly quite hopeless undertaking of establishing a plant of its own.