DEFENCE COSTS

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19100, 22 August 1936, Page 15

DEFENCE COSTS

DOMINION PROTECTION DEBATE ON ESTIMATES NAVY AND AIR FORCE DUAL PURPOSE PLANER (Per Tress Association.) WELLINGTON, this day. _ Consideration ol' the departmental estimates was resumed when the House ol Representatives met. this morning. Speaking on the vote for the miemplovmeht fund. Mr. S. O. Smith (Nat., New Plymouth) said the present Government had placed a number of men who were earning £3 or £4 a week on sustenance at £2 Is, so their position was not improved.

Replying to the discussion on the \iavai vote, the Minister of Defence, the Hon. F. .tones, said that 50 per cent of the ratings in the New Zealand division of the navy were New Zcalanders. Coming to the defence vote, the Hon. .1. G. Cobb© (Nat,, Oroua) expressed the opinion that the vote for military aviation was too small.

Mr. Jones said it was hoped to establish a training school for civil and military pilots. There was difficulty m obtaining the planes required for various works. The Government would consider providing planes for dual purposes. I hey could cany passengers, and in the event of war could be converted for defence purposes. It was proposed to have purely military machines and civil aviation should also be developed. TYPE OF AEROPLANES

The EL Hon. J. G. Coatee (Nat., Kaipara) suggested that the Government should take sufficient power to intimate to the aviation companies now operating, the necessity for considering the Government's viewpoint regarding the type ol machines, because he believed the machines now being made would be quite suitable for bombing and reconnoitring. He also suggested that communication between aerodromes, and between the aerodromes and planes, should be extended and perfected. He suggested also that young airmen should be sent abroad to become acquainted with the latest developments in aviation.

Mr. Jones explained how the meteorological services were being extended and said it was felt that, the Goveminent should control the radio equipment at aerodromes. The Government was well seized of the importance of providing the. latest safety devices. Two young men were sent home last, year to study the latest radio devices in operation. Mr. W. J. Poison (Nat., Stratford) thought that greater encouragement shouhf be given to young men to join the volunteers. A number ot privileges could be accorded them wjneh would popularise volunteering. FOUR OR FIVE YEARS Mr. H. M. Christie (Lab., Waipawa) contended that instead of providing, for defence for one year without heeding what was to come after that, they should provide for four or five years, so that a plan could he worked out, Tho plan must be flexible, but there were certain definite lines that could be followed.

Several members expressed the view that, the man who was to advise the Government should have a. knowledge of all arms of the service, not the air arm only. It was urged that a man should be secured who had a broad outlook and would not urge the development of his own arm of service, instead of coordinating all anus. The Rt. Hon. G. W. Forbes sought information regarding the extension of the air mail service to New Zealand. Mr. Jones said that no iinal decision had yet been reached. Sir James Panhad attended a conference of representatives of New Zealand, Britain and Australia, and he expressed the viewpoint, of the New Zealand Government that the service should bo operated by the Governments concerned, but the Government was still awaiting his report. He understood that Imperial Airways were constructing flying boats for the tranfi-Tasman service. The matter in dispute between Britain and Australia was not yet settled, and if an agreement could be reached there should be no difficulty about starting a trans-Tas-man service.

Mr. C. H. Burnett (Lab., Tauranga) urged greater encouragement for defence rifle clubs. Mr. Jones said ho would look into the matter.