DOMINION PILOTS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 169, 20 July 1939, Page 18

DOMINION PILOTS.

IMPERIAL DEFENCE. ROYAL AIR FORCE. MOST USEFUL CONTRIBUTION. (By Telegraph.—Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON, this day. "It lias been deckled that New Zealand's most useful air contribution to imperial defence is the training of pilotsfor the Royal Air Force in times of peace, and pilots, observers and airgunners in time of war," said the Minister of Defence, Mr. Jones, in the House of Representatives last r.ight. The Minister added that by the end of the present month 267 New Zealanders would have left home for direct entry into the Royal Air Force. In addition 60 locally trained pilots would have been, sent to Britain, while 42 more were under training at Wigram aerodrome and at various aero clubs. Altogether 369 candidates had been accepted or were completing training for the Royal Air Force. For each of 60 New Zealand trained pilots that had been sent to Britain, the Minister said, the (iovernment had received £ I .V>(). a total of £93.000 sterling. 'l i e British Government wanted still more New Zealand trained pilots, and the' New Zealand (iovernment had undertaken to supply Britain with 220 pilots a year when its development plans were in full operation. Tn return the British Government had offered to increase the payment for each pilot to £1770. This would eventually amount to £374,000 sterling a year. The increase of £1.50 made in payment for each pilot represented the British -Government's assistance to the establishment of an aircraft factory in New Zealand.