ROLE OF THE AIR FORCE

Press, Volume LXXV, Issue 22767, 20 July 1939, Page 12

ROLE OF THE AIR FORCE

* Protection And Training MINISTER GIVES DETAILS Machines Ordered And Delivered [From Our Parliamentary Reporter.] WELLINGTON, July 19. The role of the Royal New Zealand Air Force was defined by the Minister for Defence (the Hon. F. Jones) in his speech during the Address-in-Re-ply debate in the House of Representatives to-night. The force had two main functions, he said. These were co-operation with the Navy for protecting New Zealand trade, and cooperation with both the Navy and the Army for the defence of the Dominion territory, and, second, training. After considerable thought, it was decided that New Zealand's most useful air contribution to imperial defence was the training of pilots for the Royal Air Force in peace, and pilots, observers, and air gunners in time of war.

Mr Jones said the new Vickers Wellington bombers would seek out, and if possible destroy enemy surface vessels in focal areas north and south of New Zealand and elsewhere up to' distances of 500 miles or more from the New Zealand coast. The new machines, the Minister said, were high speed craft, with a large bomb load capacity. The Government had purchased 30 of them, as well as working reserves. The type was among the latest introduced into the Royal Air Force. Some had been delivered already, and were due to arrive from Great Britain in October. Military aircraft in New Zealand on March 31 this year totalled 54, compared with 24 on May 31, 1935, Mr Jones continued. Since March 31 this year, 24 Fairey Gordons had arrived, and 16 Vickers Vincents were now being unloaded at Auckland. Training and reconnaissance types on order numbered 250, and of these 109 were expected to be delivered before September. In addition, fi,ve Airspeed Oxfords had already been delivered, and six more of this type were on order. The Vickers Vildebeest and Fairey Gordon machines, to be used at Wigram and Blenheim, were satisfactory for training, and the other trainers were the Oxfords, modern twinengined craft. When the Labour Government took office in 1935 there were virtually no bombs or ammunition for the Air Force. During the recent visit of the Air Mission to New Zealand the possibility of manufacturing aircraft in. New Zealand was considered, he said. This aroused much interest, and the mission’s report showed that this was possible. It suggested that at present the manufacture should be confined to the trainer type. The nroposal by the De Havilland Company to establish works in the Dominion was, in the opinion of the mission. one that should be availed of, and the mission recommended that the Government should place an initial order for 100 machines to provide for ordinary requirements, and create a reserve. When the works were in full working order it was hoped to take advantage of the services of Government arid private workshops in the manufacture of many of the necessary parts. The British Government was anxious to assist. Mr - Jones added. It had offered to do so bv contributing an additional £l5O for each pilot trained and sent Home. This generous offer had been accepted.

£5,000,000 SPENT AIR DEFENCE UNDERTAKINGS AND MACHINES [From Our Parliamentary Reporter.] WELLINGTON, Ju 1 v 19. Expenditure amounting almost to £5,000,000 had been undertaken by the present Government in, air defence in New Zealand, said the Minister for Defence (the Hon. F. Jones) during the Address-in-Reply debate in the House of Representatives to-night. The main items, he said, were as follows: —

Grand total .. .. 4,388,590 To which must be added £190,025, representing the cost of preparation of flying fields since April, 1937.

Whenuapai aerodrome 556.140 Ohakea 507,070 Wigram 366,310 Hobsonville 282.120 Blenheim 409,000 Total Other large items were:— Territorial squadron build2,120,640 ings 198,950 Railway workshop buildings Headquarters and communi25,000 cations 2,000 Survey of Pacific islands .. 10,000 Ammunition and bombs .. Aircraft spares and equip480,000 ment Reserve aircraft and storage 1,342,000 accommodation .. ' 210,000 Total 2,267,950