THE NEED FOR DEFENCE

Evening Post, Issue 11, 13 July 1936, Page 8

THE NEED FOR DEFENCE

(To the Editor.)

Sir, —Without being unduly apprehensive it must occur to everyone that the prospects for world peace within the next few years are rather grimi, This country does not appear to be extending itself to any great extent in preparing for eventualities and I think that some definite expressions of opinion by the general public might be a guide to the Government as to the wish of the country regarding expenditure on defence. One reads that Britain has decided to subordinate everything to the preparation •of armaments. Surely this is significant and should act as a spur.

There are at least a few easy and comparatively inexpensive ways by which we could at once set about improving our insufficient defences.

It is almost universally agreed that air defence is of paramount importance to New Zealand and in spite of our handicap in the number of modern aircraft in the country I suggest that we are; not making anything like the use that could be made of what we have. The Territorial Air Force officers do a certain amount of training every six months and despite the critics this training is a whole lot better than they imagine; but why can it not be increased to the fullest extent of the facilities at the two Air Force stations? There are numbers of young officers in the New Zealand Air Force Wing who, as pilots, are the equal of any anywhere and while one realises that there is a limit to the number of flying hours that can be put in and at the same time keep the machines serviceable, there is a tremendous amount of ground training which is equally as important to these officers as is their air work. I am convinced that increased training on these lines would be justified by results. • .. ■

Regarding the provision of additional aircraft it is obvious that, under the present conditions, it must become increasingly difficult for Britain to build service machines for the Dominions and any that we might be able to purchase could hardly be expected within a year, probably much longer, so why not purchase, immediate requirements from America and get moving? Britain would probably look upon this as great wisdom; in fact orders placed there now are more likely to be an embarrassment. And is it not time we set about building our own aircraft and buy only the engines?—l am, etc., , SI VIS PACEM, PARA BELLUM.