DEFENCE TALKS

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18559, 20 November 1934, Page 11

DEFENCE TALKS

‘id * AUSTRALIA AND N.Z. ' „ , Pi WELLINGTON CONFERENCE STRONGER AIR FORCE? fi-' . •V&J 1) 'y>y '.Matters-’Vitaly affecting the policy to b 6 i jwrsuecl jfr connection with tha Rii%N., and itll/co-operation with the Neti?.‘ Zealand 'Squritfron, will oe discussed at the defence CGfMrence in Wellington, Says' the Sydney Sun. Australia will be .represented by Senator Sir Georg' •Pearce. i.Mfflk . L‘s. • A revision of -tactics, in view of tha fact-that the Singapore base has almost beep completed, and will soon be an integral part of the defence schenSe of botF the China and Far East Briish fleets, and the R.A.N., will also be undertaken. On. this point the advice and, assistance' of Sir Maurice Hftrtkey, secretary of the Imperial Committee of Defence, will be sought.'; MUNITION SUPPLIES r A$ this conference it is understood that question of New 'Zealand obtaining all her munitions supplies from Australia will be discussed. Recently a large qualntity of New Zealand artillery pmunitfop was reconditioned riefe, apdriuiv they'orders for shell and-high-explosive material have been placed with local munitions works in the past few months. - Tse question of the provision of adequate bases for seagoihg fleets, the revision of arrangements for convoy of 'lhorchant shipping in the.even,t of war, artel other matters ' dillift’g for the cciopefration of New Zealaud and Australian warsliips with the Briish licet will also be disCuSsed. V R, FLEET’S AIR, ARM Recent developments, in the nsc of aircfatt, as a supplementary. ,%t ; -firm will also, 'be explained to the conference. It is 'Said in Sydney that, the new defenee policy contemplates the strengthening of Australia’s naval air force, and that it ifs possible ~ that a new and more modern aeroplane carrier to replace the Albatross will be undertaken. It jis suggested that the programme of conversion of Australia’s Navy to the new standard of light cruisers' of about r tonjs, and the use of more destroyers of heqyier tonnage than the present, ones, may, bo suspended until provision’for ..In adequate fleet air arm has be9n made Provision was made in the last Bqdgct for; the extension of the present munitions manufacturing resources. • It, is anticipated in defence circles (that tfiip wilf; he accelerated in view of possible large purchases from New Zealand, and the'fact, that Australia will become increasingly important in the new scheme , of the Committee of Imperial Defence for the protection and patrol of the Pacific. - F-v Tr-r:. m