AIR DEFENCE OF N.Z.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19135, 2 October 1936, Page 12

AIR DEFENCE OF N.Z.

CRITICISM BY VISITOR POLICY CONDEMNED "Great Britain does not want New Zealand scurrying round trying to defend herself; she would prefer a contribution to Imperial defence," said Captain W. Vazie Simons, who lias served in the Royal Air Force and the Navy, and who is now visiting Christchurch. His contention was that the defence of New Zealand was impossible; if every man, woman and child in the country were armed in the event of war they could not defend the coastline. If aiiy northern Pacific power decided to attack New Zealand, the Dominion could muster Up only aibout a dozen efficient aeroplanes according to preSeritday standards. Even the VitdebeeSt machines provided in recent months were obsolescent, and he could not understand' why they were purchased. What was wanted' was to provide a scheme of Empire defence, with (he provision of perhaps two cruisers by New Zealand:

Captain.- Simons; strongly., advocated the provision of, flying-boats instead of land aeroplanes. They could be converted into torpedo-carrying aircraft or coastal reconnaissance machines. The pilots would know the coastline of New Jealand, and by courses of training, they could be fitted to resist casual .attacks, though they could -not hope to defeat ah; enemy intent oh " 'Conquering' ' the country. All'that' was wanted- was > a piece of the foreshore and the provision of hangars and slipways. The expense of providing for flying-boats would be much less than that of providing for land aeroplanes. All the main towns would be easv of access for them. •New Zealand should get away ffom orthodox methods of thought, and adapt herself to her own peculiar'needs. The smaller towns, he said, could be served with feeder linrs of land jtcropianes, but, seaplanes were as safe (il not safer) to land on the country as land aeroplanes. Captain Simons held that the only method to ensure peace was to make the British Commonwealth of Nations so strong that she could dictate to the A'orld. An alliance of the English-speak-' ing peoples by uniting with America would enable.the policing of the world, which was becoming a very small place; and the debacle of the League of Nations would be a thing of the past. If the- coloui'ed races gained control, the white races would be decimated, lie said. The colour line, must be kept rigidly and not relaxed one iota. There were 4C0,0C0,000 people, in China, and nearly 100,000,000 Japanese, who could officer the Chinese. India had her highlytrained troops. He did not think, however,' that Japan wanted. Australia and New Zealand; she was satisfied with Manchukuo.