AIR EFFICIENCY

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23263, 4 February 1939, Page 15

AIR EFFICIENCY

FORCES OF EMPIRE CRAFT FROM ENGLAND BRITAIN FORGES 'AHEAD INCREASING OUTPUT By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright LONDON. Feb. 2 The Air Ministry envisages a more rapid advance of the Empire's aerial fighting efficiency by the despatch to Australia and New Zealand later in the year of many of the latest types of machines. The first batch of heavily armed Ilawker Hurricane monoplane fighters has already been shipped to Africa to bring African trainees up-to-date.

The aeronautical correspondent of the Times, commenting on foreign estimates of Britain's air strength, says it can be stated that these are •very much on the low side. Something like a miracle happened in last year's acceleration of deliveries, this correspondent states, and he quotes Mr« Chamberlain's prophecy that the output may be between two or three times in advance of that of May, 1938.

Labour strength between 1935 and 1937 rose to 80,000 from 30,000, and is now infinitely higher. With 3500 firms employed on subcontracts the Koyal Air Force to-day; is going from strength to strength.

"The machines mentioned as coming to New Zealand are the 30 Vickers 1 Wellingtons, ordered by the Government last year," said the Minister of Defence, the Hon. F. Jones, when the cablegram from London was _ referred to him by telephone in Wellington last night. Mr. Jones added that any time from October onward it was expected to have the Wellingtons flown to New Zealand in batches. In addition, the Government had on order a number of oldertype aircraft which were still capable of serving a useful purpose, but there were no modern fighters included in the order.