ROYAL AIR FORCE

Dominion, Volume 31, Issue 22, 21 October 1937, Page 12

ROYAL AIR FORCE

Measure Authorising Establishment CIVIL AVIATION Special Department Of State Full legal status is given to the Royal New Zealand Air Force under the terms of the Air Force Bill which was introduced in the House of Representatives yesterday by Governor-Gen-eral’s message. A second measure, the Air Department Bill, also introduced yesterday, provides for the establishment of a department of State to control both military and civil aviation. The Bill gives power for the raising and maintenance of the Air' Force along the lines which are being followed at present. The general scheme of organisation provides for a regular Air Force, an Air Force Reserve, and a Territorial Air Force, all three branches of the service being constituted in accordance with customary procedure. Certain members of the defence forces who are at present serving with the Air Force in the Dominion are deemed to be transferred. The practice by which minors may enlist in the Air Force is regulated. Provision is also contained in the Bill for the establishment of an Air Board, which will be charged with the administration of the Air Force and which will also act in an advisory capacity with regard to civil aviation and its co-ordination with measures of defence. The board will consist of the Minister of Defence as president; three officers of any of His Majesty’s Air Forces, appointed by the GovernorGeneral and holding office during pleasure; and the Air Secretary, who is to be appointed under the Bill. The Controller of Civil Aviation in the Dominion is also to be associated with the board and is to be regarded as a member. Pensions and Gratuities. The Bill provides for the payment of gratuities and of pensions in the event of death or disablement of members of the Air Force, but it is expressly stated that the Workers’ Compensation Act will not apply when members of the Air Force are involved in accidents arising out of their employment. The usual powers for the maintenance of discipline and the making of regulations are contained in the Bill. The measure establishing the Air Department is to have a retrospective application, dating from April 1 of this year. The department will be in charge of the administration of the Air Navigation Act and the Air Force Bill after the latter becomes law. The Air Secretary, to be appointed under the Air Force Bill, will be the chief administrative officer of the department, which will have the duty of advising the Government on all matters affecting aviation. The appointment of a Controller of Civil Aviation Is legalised. Expenses already incurred in the administration of the Air Force during the current financial year are validated. A further provision is that the department has to submit an annual report to Parliament. Dealing with the Air Force Bill, the Minister of Defence, Hon. F. Jones, said it had been framed as a result of the report submitted to the Government by Group Captain the Hon. R. A. Cochrane. It provided for an Air Board, but there would be no separate air ministry. The Air Department Bill, the Minister continued, gave statutory authority to set up a special department of State to control the Air Force and also civil aviation. The Air Secretary would be the administrative head. There would be economies as the result of certain services such as meteorological and wireless facilities being common to both military and civil aviation. There was no board as far as civil aviation was concerned, although there would be a controller of civil aviation under the Air Department. The Bills were read a first time.

PURCHASE OF WOOL Draft Allowance To Go LEGISLATION INTRODUCED The abolition of the draft allowance in favour of purchasers of wool is provided l for in the Sale of Wool Bill, which was introduced in the House of Representatives by Governor-General's message yesterday. A preamble to the Bill states that similar action is being taken by the various States of AusI ralia. The New Zealand legislation is to come into force on a date to be specified by proclamation, and the actual effective clause in the Bill is as follows:—“Any provision, express or implied, in any contract of sale of wool entered into after the commencement of this Act, providing for any deduction, as or in the nature of a draft allowance, from the weight of the wool the subject of the contract small be void and of no effect,” After a brief discussion, in which it was stated that South Africa was also adopting the new procedure, and during. which members on both sides of the House expressed approval of the measure, the Bill was read a first time. It was made clear that the legislation would apply only to sales in New Zealand. STATE DWELLINGS Minister Explains Ballot Procedure .Information regarding the letting of the new State dwellings was given by the Minister in Charge of Housing, Hon. W. Nash, when replying to a question by Mr. R. A. Wright (Independent, Wellington Suburbs) in the House of Representatives yesterday. The Minister said that a ballot was held for the State rental houses under construction and nearing completion at Miramar, Lower Hutt and Johnsonville, and applications received after E > lvertised closing date were not admitted. All eligible applicants were admitted to the ballot, which wa - conducted on the basis of the established procedure for land ballots. Special provision was made for two tenants who wore displaced in another part, of the city through the’recent acquisition of land by the Government for educational purposes,