AIR DEFENCE
MINISTER'S VIEWS
"if war were declared to-morrow, our cruisers would go to the nearest uavul base and be under tho ono naval command. Our defence would consist of guns m fixed positions and land forces. If one armed merchantman belonging to the enemy arrived 150 miles off this coast, with a mother-ship carrying ten or twelve aeroplanes, equipped with gas and bombs for the destruction of our cities, what is our defence?" This question epitomises the views of the Minister of Defence (tho Hon T M. Wilford) upon New Zealand defence policy, and was the form in which he replied to a question on the subiect yesterday. Mr. Wilford is convincod that aviation must play an important part in any adequate defonce scheme. Asked the attitude of the Government towards the aero clubs which are being formed throughout the Dominion, the Minister said that when the policy of the Government was settled it would be announced by the Prime Minister; but beforo it was announced it would be his duty to see how many clubs were essential and what wore their requirements. It was useless for any sot of enthusiasts to start out to run an aero «J,nA UUICSS they Coul(1 see a certai» £3000 a year m hand for the running of the club. No club could bo run under that figure, after it had the ground, the hangars, and the machines.
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Bibliographic details
Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 100, 2 May 1929, Page 12
Word Count
235AIR DEFENCE Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 100, 2 May 1929, Page 12
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