NEW ZEALAND “AIR-MINDED”

Press, Volume LXXXI, Issue 24591, 13 June 1945, Page 5

NEW ZEALAND “AIR-MINDED”

VIEWS OF AMERICAN AVIATION WRITER NEW YORK, May 23.. Writing in the May 21 issue of the “New York Herald Tribune," Gill Robb. Wilson, aviation writer, who recently visited Australia and New Zealand and the United States Army Air Force bases in the Central and Western Pacific, reported that New Zealand is an air-minded nation. Mr Wilson wrote in part: “New Zealand’s air strength began with the vision of government and the people concerning the nature and utility of air power in modern war. When the war began, New Zealand, for its size and population, led the world in the number of airports and airmen. Five hundred of her pilots were already in England ready to defend it when Germany struck. More than 31,000 New Zealanders have bombed Germany and Japan from the air. I could cite countless: cases of brilliant air work by these boys. “Let it be understood that New Zealand is a avorld-minded nation. The bulk of New Zealanders thoroughly realise what aviation would mean in elimination of distance and striking power against the enemy at great distance. It is significant that the first New Zealand squadron to go to England to help the Mother Country was not a fighter but a bomber squadron. Far back in 1938, New Zealanders knew, like our own veteran air leaders, that long-range hitting power was the essence of airpowCr. “Nor was the New Zealand Government left to lead the way in foresight on aviation. The average citizen there understands its implications. By public subscription, a Spitfire squadron was raised and put into combat. New Zealand was the first nation to establish a pre-flight educational programme. I’ve talked with Cabinet Ministers and none lamented the money spent for airports or educational programmes to that end. Each spoke enthusiastically about military air-power as a cord which binds the common interest of mutually friendly nations. Good Market “I foresee a good private plane market there. International air lines are spoken of with lively enthusiasm and much of their traffic will originate on this 1000 mile-long tripity of islands. A. fine domestic transport system exists even now, arid the high per capita wealth will support it without subsidy in peace tiriie. “New Zealand will not desire or be able to support a huge aircraft industry, foi its economy is primarily agricultural, but it will have representative military and civil air arms, which will not be insignificant partner to what I trust will be our own continued mighty air force, to sentinel American security and human freedom.”