Air Force Equipment

Horowhenua Chronicle, 11 June 1932, Page 2

Air Force Equipment

MORE MACHINES NEEDED WELLINGTON, June 9. More adequate provision for the naval branch of the Air Force was suggested by a deputation from the Navy League which submitted to the Prime Minister remits from the conference of the New Zealand branch of the league. The Dominion secretary, Mr. R. Darroch, said the league suggested that (I) two large flying boats should be provided or, failing this, that additional Fairey IHF machines should be obtained, and one was urgently necessary as a' stand-by for the existing machine; (2) the workshops of the base should be equipped; (3) additional personnel should be enlisted; and (4) an adequate, wireless equipment should bo provided in place of the extemporised equipment in use at present. Replying, Rt. Hon. G. W. Forbes said the matter was governed by the necessity for keeping the expenditure down to the very lowest limits. The recommendations of the league were deserving of every consideration. Hon. J. G. Cobbe (Minister of Defence) said there had been no consideiable curtailment of expenditure on the Navy as far as the air arm was concerned. In fact, the Navy expenditure this year would be about twice w a would be expended on land forces. e department had in contemplation tie purchase of additional machines, but i was all a matter of finance. He had visited the Devonport naval base last week in company with the commodore, and had found things in a most satisfactory etate.