“Taranaki Central Press” WEDNESDAY, MARCH 17, 1937. NEW ZEALAND’S AIR DEFENCE.

Taranaki Central Press, Volume IV, Issue 385, 17 March 1937, Page 4

“Taranaki Central Press” WEDNESDAY, MARCH 17, 1937. NEW ZEALAND’S AIR DEFENCE.

A thiee-year plan for the reorganisation and expansion of the Royal New Zealand Air Force was announced yesterday by. the Minister of Defence, the Hon. F. Jones. Features of the plan are: Creation of an Air Board. Formation of two new operational squadrons, equipped with aircraft of the latest type. Establishment of new aerodromes. Flying training-school at Wigram. will begin by training 50 pilots a year. Reserve of trained pilots to be built up, mainly by training pilots in New Zealand. Forty short-service commissions in Royal Air Force offered annually to New Zealanders. Seventy trained pilots needed by New Zealand Air Force in the next two years. Many more skilled mechanics required; if necesary, they will be trained. These are the lines along which development will take place and form a basis of future policy concerning this important adjunct to our defence forces. As yet no details are announced concerning the number or the nature of additional aircraft for our immediate purposes, the scheme dealing rather with the personnel and organisation .of the flying service. The Minister's statement, however, is only an outline and the practical details have obviously been well considered.

Under the new plan. New Zealand will be provided with a plan and equipment which, for the first time, will enable her to pull her weight in the general scheme of Empire defence. She will be contributing in a practical manner to the interests of the Empire, reducing the burden placed at present on Britain and developing a proper air-sense within the Dominion. The extent of the plan is apparent if a comparison is made wiffi the present force. t here are now two permanent stations in the Dominion, one at Hobsonville and one at Wigram. There are now approximately 2 5 defence machines in use, including bombers and training planes, and less than 20 permanent officers. In addition, there are four territorial squadrons with a complement of from 1 2 to 20 officers each. The two operational squadrons which will now be formed will be vastly superior in 'planes to those at present in existence and will be additional to the permanent stations as at present. Wigram is to become a training-school and Hobsonville a repair base. There should be a ready response to the call for increased personnel. Young men of the right type are available in the Dominion and service in the Air Force will be an attraction to most adventurous New Zealanders. Ihe gap between mffitary and civil aviation will be Hosed by the fmmaFon of an Air Board, and the jealousies which have existed will easily be overcome. Tlaken in all, the plan is not only sound bnltnlso an immediate necessity. Ihe Government is undoubtedly tackling the problem m a vigorous manner, and should Mr. Savage be able to report s.milar developments in land and naval defence, New Zealand s.tould be well received al the Imperial Conference's council of a lienee.