REDUCTION OF AIR ESTABLISHMENT

Waikato Times, Volume 195, Issue 22467, 30 September 1944, Page 4

REDUCTION OF AIR ESTABLISHMENT

Substantial relief from the strain of the war effort is coming to New Zealand through the reorganisation of the Air Force. A further 2400 men and women are to be released, which means a double gain to the economy of the country—relief from the payment of wages and a gain in production. Some of the released personnel may, of course, be drafted into the Army. So far arrangements have apparently been made for the release of between 4000 and 5000 men and women from the New Zealand establishment, and it seems probable that further reductions will yet be made. So strong have the air forces in the European theatre become that no further trained personnel from New Zealand are required in that direction. New Zealand can now concentrate upon the demands of the war against Japan and here only a fraction of the multi-engined bomber personnel will be required by comparison with the former demands in Europe. By this reduction New Zealand is not evading responsibility. Like many other countries the Dominion has been doing its utmost ,to strengthen the air forces of the United Nations. The sum total of this combined effort is that Allied air forces have become immensely strong and have gained unquestioned superiority over the Luftwaffe. This superiority means fewer losses, and so the United Nations find themselves with all the trained airmen that can usefully be employed. It would be bad economy to go on building up for the mere purpose of maintaining impressive figures. Because formerly it was impossible to judge when the peak would be reached, New Zealand, and probably other countries, discovered when the time came that they had built even too enthusiastically, and to some extent the organisation, on the ground at least, became surplus. It is good business to correct that position as quickly as possible.