AIR MISSION

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 233, 30 June 1939, Page 11

AIR MISSION

Recommendations To Be Implemented

ADDITIONAL TRAINING FACILITIES Much Increased Output Of Pilots EXTENSIONS AT WIGRAM Additional air force training facilities now to be established will enable the number of trained pilots to be raised'to 220 a year in peace and would put New Zealand in a position to send overseas in the event of war no fewer than 1300 fully-trained pilots and other flying personnel annually, the Minister of Defence, Mr. Jones, announced yesterday.

The Minister said that complete agreement had been reached between His Majesty’s Government in New Zealand and His Majesty’s Government in the United Kingdom on the recommendations of the recent Air Mission to New Zealand and certain matters arising out of it. Inter-Related Aims. These recomiriendations had two inter-related aims:— (1) The creation in New Zealand of the manufacturing capacity- for the production of aircraft. (2) The expansion of the .training facilities in the Dominion with a view to increasing the output of fullytrained flying personnel for the Air Force of both countries in peace and war. "With this end in view the mission recommended,” Mr. Jones said, "first, that the New Zealand Government should place an immediate order for training aircraft to be manufactured in New Zealand 'by the De Havilland Company, which will enable the company to proceed at once with the establishment of an aircraft factory at Rongotai; and, second, the establishment of further flying training facilities in New Zealand. In this latter connexion, I should explain that there has been in operation for gome time a scheme under which a number of Dominion pilots have been trained annually for the Royal Air Force. Implementing Recommendations. "The New Zealand Government has decided to implement both these recommendations at once, and by way of contribution to the cost involved in these two important projects, the United Kingdom Government has agreed to make an increase in the grant paid under the present training scheme. “I should like to take this opportunity of expressing publicly' the thanks of His Majesty’s Government in New Zealand to Sir Hardman Lever and his colleagues for their valuable work.” The Minister said very considerable reorganization and expansion of the Royal New Zealand Air Force was involved in a statement made by. the Secretary of State for Air, Sir Kingsley 'Wood, in the House of Commons on the agreement between the United Kingdom and New Zealand Governments. Wigram Facilities. "The Flying Training School at Wigram is to be increased substantially in size so as to provide for the training of 1.40 pilots a year, as against a contemplated output of 80 pilots a year under the earlier expansion programme,” said. Mr. Jones. "To provide for this, it’is necessary to purchase some additional land required in the building area and to add additional hangars, instructional buildings, and accommodation for officers and airmen. “The Air Force station at present under construction at Blenheim is to 'be converted, to a flying training school capable of an output of 140 pilots a year, that is to say, that the Flying Training School at Blenheim will be of\equal capacity to the Flying Training School at Wigram. This proposal involves the purchase of additional land, the erection of four hangars instead of two, and the provision of technical accommodation and further accommodation for officers and airmen. "The further expansion in th© programme of the Royal New Zealand Air Force will mean that young men selected for short service commissions, will, in future, instead of going straight to England, receive their first eight months’ training in New Zealand, and it is hoped to commence on the first stage of the expanded training scheme at the beginning of 1940.”

•FINANCIAL AID FOR DEFENCE*

“The Times” Praises New

Zealand’s Move

By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright.

(Received June 29, 9.10 p.m.) LONDON, June 29.

The Secretary of Air, Sir Kingsley Wood, outlined in the House of Commons today the recommendations of the air mission accepted by the New Zestland Government. New Zealand’s assistance would be a most valuable contribution to Imperial defence, he commented.

“The Times” in a leader pays a tribute to New Zealand’s defence measures. It says that the difficulties of Mr. Nash’s visit cannot be allowed to affect the provision of whatever money and credits may be necessary to enable New Zealand to defend herself and participate in Empire defence. If war came it is most likely that the Pacific area would be involved more directly than ever before, and New Zealand would have a burden of responsibilities out of all proportion to her unaided strength. Britain should not be niggardly with help for her to prepare for her defence.