AIR DEFENCE

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 50, 1 March 1937, Page 10

AIR DEFENCE

IMPORTANT CHANGES

EXPERT'S REPORTS

NEED FOR REORGANISATION

(By Tclcs:..:jli—Press Association.)

BLENHEIM, This Day;

As a result.of a report by Wing Commander the Hon. R. A. Cochrane, who was recently engaged by the New Zealand Government to investigate matters affecting air defence, proposals will shortly be brought down regarding a reorganisation in the training of pilots and the control of aerodromes. , This statement was made by the Minister of Defence (the Hon. F. Jones), who visited Blenheim at the week-end. The Minister added that the. first step would be a conference at Wellington today between himself and representatives of aero clubs.

The Minister stated that the Government had been greatly impressed with the reports already presented by WingCommander Cochrane and during tho extended period of his stay in New Zealand —two years instead of the fortnight originally arranged with the British Air Ministry—he would conduct a close investigation into the question of defence aerodromes and report on the personnel of pilot staffs and further equipment, involving new aeroplanes for the Air Force.

Full details of the first part of WingCommander Cochrane's report would probably be available for announcement within a fortnight. The Minister said that in his opinion, after reading some of the reports already given,- by Wing-Commander Cochrane there was a need for reorganisation of air defence in New Zealand, particularly when the present position in overseas affairs was considered. The Government recognised that excellent work had been done by those responsible at present for aviation control and full recognition of that would be given. One of the features of the programme, he explained, would be the provision of emergency landing grounds throughout New Zealand at points preferably not more than 50 miles apart, i