AIR MISSION

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 156, 28 March 1939, Page 8

AIR MISSION

Ten Days In Dominion

Next Month PRELIM IN ARY SURVE Y Facilities For Production Of Aircraft Arrangements for the visit to New Zealand of the British Air Mission, which is now in Australia, were announced last evening by the Minister in Charge of Aviation, Mr. Jones. He said that members of the mission were to arrive in the Dominion on April 3, and that they would be here till April 13.

•The members of the mission are:— Sir Hardman Lever, Bart., K.C.8., leader of the mission. Colonel Sir Donald Banks, K.C.8., D. 5.0., M.C. Air Marshal Sir Arthur Longmore, K.C.8., D.S.O. Mr. C. Howarth, senior technical officer iu the Directorate of Production, British Air Ministry. Mr. A. C. Boddis, Assistant Director of Contracts, British Air Ministry. Mr. E. S. Jackson, secretary of the mission. .

Sir Hardman Lever was leader of the mission to Canada last year. Sir Donald Baulks is permanent Under-Sec-retary of State for Air in Great Britain, and was also a member of the mission which visited Canada. Sir Arthur Longmore had a distinguished career in the Royal Air Force. He has been commandant of the Imperia) Defence College since 1936. A preliminary survey of the facilities in this country for 'the production of aircraft lias already been made by Mr. Howarth. After spending a week iu New Zealand ho left last Wednesday for Australia to rejoin his fellow members of the mission and to report to them on the results of his investigations. .

A special committee of Cabinet Ministers Iras 'been co-operating with officers of the Air Department in securing information and preparing an agenda for discussion with the mission. The members of this committee are the Minister of Education, Mr. Fraser, the Minister of Finance, Mr. Nash, the Minister of Industries and Commerce, Mr. Sullivan, and Mr. Jones. In an announcement made last month Mr. Jones said that before the mission arrived iu New Zealand the committee would meet and consider the information that had been gathered and would then arrange for the discussions that would be necessary between members of the mission and the Cabinet committee or departmental officials. After com'Dleting his work in New Zealand as a member of the Air Mission, Air Marshal Sir Arthur Longmore will attend the conference On Pacific problems as one of the representatives of the British Government. This conference, which is due to commence on April 14, is likely to extend over a week at least.