THE AIR PROGRAMME

Evening Post, Volume CXXV, Issue 115, 18 May 1938, Page 12

THE AIR PROGRAMME

MEN AND MATERIAL MACHINES ORDERED THE TRAJNING SYSTEM "On faking office," said the Minister, "I discovered that a. plan for the development of an air force had been prepared, providing for the purchase of certain aircraft each year over a period of "years. The .plan appears to have broken down. The new aeroplanes that were purchased were practically out of date when they reached here, but, what is more interesting, no ammunition was purchased for the machines. As a matter of fact, there was no semblance of an air force.

"In 1936 the Government gave very serious consideration to the position of aviation in New« Zealand, and decided to seek advice from Great Britaim. Arrangements were accordingly made with the British. Government for an officer to, be sent to New Zealand to report on military aviation in this country. The Air Ministry made available the services of Group Captain the Hon. R. A. Cochrane, who arrived here at the beginning of November, 1936. His report was given immediate consideration and was adopted. Previously the Air Service had been under the contrqjl of the Defence Department, but in view of the growing importance of aviation, both military and civil, the Government decided to set up a separate Department of State to co-ordinate all matters relating to aviation in New Zealand, and thus bring the organisation into line with that of other parts of the Empire.

"It was then arranged that Group Captain Cochrane's services be retained for a period of two years, and his term has recently been extended with the concurrence of the Air Ministry for a further period of six months, by which time it is hoped that at least one of the proposed operational stations will be in use. •'

PROGRESS TO DATE. < "The Government has (1) establish- ( ed an air force as a separate service . of the Crown, organised so that it can • take its appropriate place . alongside \ the other two services in the defence ■ of New Zealand; (2) approved of the ' formation of two ' new operational stations—one at Ohakea, near Feilding, and one probably at Whenuapai, in the vicinity of Hobsonville; (3) established a flying training school for pilots for the Royal New Zealand- Air Force at Wigram Aerodrome, Christchurch; ,(4) approved of the establishment of Hobsonville as a repair base and stores depot. "Orders, have been placed for five twin-engined Airspeed Oxford aeroplanes for training of personnel and for the carrying out of survey work, etc. Two machines will arrive within , the next few weeks and the balance at intervals within three months. "The Government* has ordered 30 Vickers Wellington aircraft for the operational squadrons at a cost, including equipment, of £750,000. The I Wellington aircraft is the latest type to go into production and has a great range and load-carrying capacity. The aircraft will be flown to New Zealand as soon as the stations are ready to receive them. "Orders have been placed for the immediate supply of ammunition for bombers, also spare parts for machines , and other spares. i. "Arrangements have been made with the Air Ministry in Great Britain for the acceptance of locally-selected candidates from New Zealand for direct entry into the Royal Air Force on short service commissions. Previously these lads had to bear the. cost of proceeding to England and risk being rejected on arrival there. So far, 90 candidates have been sent Home under this scheme and further batches will go forward each month. We .have an agreement with the Air Ministry to send 150 candidates between April of this year and March of next year." "A squadron of the Territorial Air Force has been formed at Wellington and the formation of territorial squadrons at Auckland, Christchurch, and Dunedin at a cost of £100,000 has been approved. The organisation has been much facilitated by the provision, at exceptionally low cost, of 29 Baffin aircraft from the Air Ministry's reserves. These aircraft carry three-quarters of a ton of bombs, are easy to handle, and quite fast enough for the purpose required, which is to overtake and attack enemy ships. They have a good defensive armament. CIVIL RESERVE OF 'PILOTS. "The Government has established a scheme for a civil reserve of pilots, and has entered into an agreement with the aero clubs of New Zealand j under which 100 pilots for the reserve (are trained annually and given refresher courses for the two succeeding years. Under this agreement many capable young lads, _ who otherwise would not be able to obtain an A licence owing to their inability to meet the cost involved, will be given an opportunity of learning to fly. "An agreement has' been entered into whereby aero clubs of the four principal cities carry out the preliminary training, over a period of two months each, of 50 candidates for the Air Force. They are then transferred to Wigram for further training for a period of nine months, after which ' they proceed to Great Britain on short- • service commissions to complete their . training in the Royal Air Force. Six such partially-trained pilots have 'ai- ' ready proceeded to England. The Air > Ministry reimburses the Government i £1550 for each pilot trained under : this, scheme. This offer was made to ■ th previous Government, but was not accepted. ; '"In addition to assisting the aero ; club movement by grants for the t training of pilots of the Civil Reserve, r the Government has granted assist--1 ancc. through interest-free money, for 1 j the purchase of aircraft, and by (he 31 gift of four aeroplanes during the last r | financial year. -' "The Government has established nan Air Force Reserve under which [pilots will be given an eight months'

course of training at Wigram, and then return to civil life. "Approval has been given for the increase in the permanent personnel of the Royal New Zealand Air Force from 130 in 1935 to 900, which will be the strength, of the force in 1940, the date on which the.accommodation will be available for this' increased number. To date the increase in permanent personnel is such that the Royal New Zealand Air Force today consist's of 73 officers and 439 airmen, exclusive of the Territorial Air Force. "The progress made will be shown on June 4, when his Excellency the Governor-General will inspect' detachments of the Air Force and will witness a demonstration of trafning methods, "The inspection of aircraft is being brought into line with the standard practice of othCr countries. The Government approved of the appointment of a chief inspector and two inspectors of aircraft, an office engineer, and a technical assistant ,in the aeronautical inspection branch of the Air Department. "An aeradio committee, which .has already done excellent,, work, was established to advise the Government of the requirements of radio aids for commercial and civil flying. Much of the equipment is now coming to hand, and when installed will increase to a very high degree the safety factor in flying. ' *■ AERADIO STATION. , "There has been. established on Raoul, or Sunday Island, in the Kermadec Giroup, an aeradio station, from which weather reports are being received daily. They are of value to shipping, and will be extensively used when the flying services are operating over the Pacific and the Tasman Sea. "The development of aerodromes and the provision of emergency landing grounds have been actively continued throughout New Zealand. "Under legislation passed last year, an Air Board was established and vested with powers for the -administration of the Air Force similar to those possessed by the Naval Board for the administration of the' New Zealand Division of the Royal Navy. I am satisfied that the steps already taken will make for better and more harmonious control and administration of aviation. ' i'The following figures relating to expenditure on" aviation (service and civil) during the last ten years are of considerable interest:—l 927-28, £29,158; 1928-29, £83,405; 1929-30, £92,053; 1930-31, £62,198; 1931-32,, £26,863; 1932-33, £27,715; , 1933-34, £49,474; 1934-35, £167,962; 1935-36, £352,749; 1936-37, £502,289; 1937-38, £567,484."