WINNING THE WAR.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16166, 21 March 1918, Page 7

WINNING THE WAR.

GIFT OF AEROPLANES URGED. At tho meeting of the commiUee of the Canterbury Sheepowners' Union last night, a long letter was read from Mr Edgar Jones, Mt. Nessing, South Canterbury, in which he very strongly deprecated any slackening of war effort in Nejv Zealand. He especially wished to bring before the Union tho need of trained aviators at the front. New Zealand had now to send less men to tho front, the reinforcements Laving been reef need, and the New Zealuna Government should bo urged, ho thought, to assist the Imperial Army with aviators, and with the building of at least 100U aeroplanes. All the les-i-.ons of tho war showed that aeroplanes were absolutely invaluable, and New Zealand could do incalculable good, to the Allied cause if tho Government decided to order and pay lor aeroplanes. A thousand 'planes could bo sent, and the men trained, for the cost of a Dreadnought, and would be much more valuable at the present juncture. Mr Jones, who was present, said that that what ho wanted was for tho Union to commence the agitation in New Zealand which would force the Government to make a start with the building of aeroplanes. The 'planes, of course, could not bo built in New Zealand, or, he thought, they could not, but he was satisfied they could be bought and built in America, and possibly in Japan, He had triqd hard to get the New Zealand Cabinet to cablc to America to see if 'planes could be built to the order of the New Zealand Government, but nothing had been done. Ho appealed to tho Sheepowners' Union, becausc it consisted of men who wero property holders, and it was to their interests to get the war ended as soon as possible. Mr D. W. Westonra remarked that even if America could build tho 'planes, how could they bp sent to Franco? America had as much as she could do in sending hpr own material. Mr C. IS. Ensor said ho thought Mr Jones was to be thanked, for bringing this important matter forward. Ho was sure tho Union was in complete sympathy with Mr Jones's aims. It was unanimously resolved: "That the Canterbury Sheepowners' Union has carefully considered tho question of tho supply of aeroplanes for the purpose of winning tho war, and is fully in sympathy with the movement, and strongly urges the Government to take the matter in hand promptly before it is too late: tho Union also urges the Government to establish aviation stations for tho purpose 0 f training aviators."