DEFENCE FORCES

Dominion, Volume 28, Issue 33, 2 November 1934, Page 9

DEFENCE FORCES

Plans For Strengthening . . i: . > .. ENGINES FOR BOMBERS ■ The carrying out of the plans for-, initiated for the strengthening of the. defences of the Dominion is quietly; proceeding. Much has apparently already been done along the lines of the different announcements in the House of Representatives by the Prime Minister, Rt. Hon. G. W. Forbes, and the: Minister of Defence, Hon. J. G. Cobbe. There is a good deal of interest in the forthcoming visit of Sir Maprice Hankey, Secretary to the Imperial Cabinet and of the (.Committee of Imperial Defence, who arrives in Wellington oii November 20 to confer with the Government on defence matters. It is understood that, as Sir Mauri Hankey is coming to New Zealand from Australia, he will be joined in the visit, by, the. Rt. Hon.' sir George Pearce, Minister for Defence of the Commonwealth of Australia. The conference to take place is likely to be of great importance to both the Dominion and the Commonwealth. ' In reply to 'a question about the coming conference, Mr. Cobbe stated that he could not add to the statement recently made by the Prime Minister that the main purpose of the visit of Sir Maurice Hankey was to hold a series' of unofficial conversations with Cabinet in relation to the defence of New Zealand and co the defensive measures of the Empire as a whole. “It can be expected, of course,” said Mr. Cobbe, “that advantage will be taken of Sir Maurices visit to discuss many matters of mutual interest to New Zealand and Australia.” - •

Questioned regarding the big Vlldebeeste bombing aeroplanes which the Prime Minister announced some time ago were on order, Mr. Cobbe said, that some of the engines for the machines had already arrived in New Zealand. "Two flights,” said the. Minister, “that is, eight machines, will be here about' February next. Duplicate engines are also being obtained for the planes and some extra frames When these machines have been fitted up and placed in service the air arm of the Defence Department will be modernised.”