AIR DEFENCE OF N.Z.

Grey River Argus, 19 March 1942, Page 5

AIR DEFENCE OF N.Z.

EQUIPMENT COMING

From- Overseas

PA WELLINGTON, March 17. “Very substantial measures are in progress for reinforcing New Zealand’s Air Force and equipment from the United Kingdom and United States,” said the Minister of Defence, the Hon. F. Jones, to-night. While these developments are taking place. New Zealand will continue, without neglecting her . own immediate requirements, to play her part in the building up the total air strength oi the-Allied nations. . “An ever-increasing output oi aircraft in the United Kingdom and America would require large numbers of trained air crews, the Minister continued, and while New Zealand could not send away as many men as originally planned, she would send as many as possible. Careful plans had been made to retain a proper proportion for the defence of New Zealand, but large numbers of semi-trained air crews could not usefully be kept standing by while advanced training schools were built up in'the Dominion. A considerable number of New Zealanders with war and staff experience were returning to the Dominion to take their place in the expansion of the Air Force here. Others were now undergoing training in Canada, the United States and Britain. They would return as required. The Minister added that expansion of the Air Force would mean that ground units would have to bee accommodated in centres away from the aerodromes, and he appealed to the civilians not to mention such movements.