N.Z. AIR FORCE

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 17, 21 January 1937, Page 8

N.Z. AIR FORCE

TO BE REORGANISED

RETENTION OF EXPERT

Arrangements have been made by the Government to retain the services of Wing-Commander the Hon. R. A. Cochrane for the next two years, during which period there will be a thorough reorganisation of New Zealand's Air Force. The announcement was made yesterday by the Minister of Defence (the Hon. F. Jones), who said that Wing-Commander Cochrane had already made an initial survey of aviation in the Dominion and inspected the principal aerodromes and equipment, particularly at Hobsonville (Auckland) and Wigram (Canterbury).

"The Government has received and considered a preliminary report from Wing-Commander Cochrane, who has done excellent work since his arrival in New Zealand a few months ago," continued the Minister. "As a result of that report, the Government decided to request the British Air Ministry to extend the loan of its representative officer to the New Zealand Government for two years. This, the British authorities agreed to do, and Wing-Commander Cochrane will undertake the reorganisation of the Air Force of the Dominion during the period of his extended engagement." The 'Minister expfained that arrangements had also been made to bring Squadron-Leader L. Isitt down from the Hobsonville base to Wellington for the purpose of co-operating with WingCommander Cochrane and Wing-Com-mander T. M. Wilkes and other officers of the New Zealand Air Force and Defence Department. OUTLINE OF SCHEME. "The work of reorganising the Dominion's Air Force will be put in hand at once under the advisory direction of Wing-Commander Cochrane," said Mr. Jones. "It is planned to make [a comprehensive survey of the system of military aviation in New Zealand with a view to an early development of air defence on the best posjsible lines. Full consideration will be given to the questions of aircraft, aerodromes, ground equipment, and the training of pilots. Many details and requirements have already been submitted to the Government by WingCommander Cochrane, but in view of his extended engagement for' two years, and the fact that he will make further recommendations, it is not proposed in the meantime to publish his preliminary report."

Discussing the future of Hobsonville aviation base, the Minister emphatically denied that it had been condemned by Wing-Commander Cochrane. "The British Air Ministry's expert officer has inspected both the Hobsonville and Wigram aerodromes, but there is nothing in his preliminary report to indicate that the Hpbsonville aerodrome will be discarded under the prospective scheme of reorganisation," the Minister added. "It can be said that whatever changes may be made— and some changes are inevitable— Hobsonville will be retained as a military aerodrome."