GRANT INADEQUATE

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 81, 2 October 1931, Page 9

GRANT INADEQUATE

"An efficient; Air Force in New Zea-:; land coulcl -be run on £80,000 •.*Ayear." Tho present grant of £30,000 is far from adequate," said Wing-Commander S.. Grant I>altpn when.: interviewed: by. the "Christchurch Star," ''There is need ' for money 'in the Air Force just as, there is in every other field just now. With, an eighth of what is now spent on : defence an efficient force, could be built up. It cannot be. done now. The New Zealand Aii" Force is only the foundation for a much better one, and'when the Government has the money to expend a. big improvement ■■ can be looked for. There is a huge difference between the grants to the Defence Force and .the Navy and that to the Air Forces However, the'foundation is there and can be built on when required or when the money becomes available. Civil airways aro bound to come in New Zealand, but not without a subsidy from the Government. The forry steamers andmany motor services receive mail contracts which are a big factor in making the services pay, and the same would have to apply to the airways. It is ridiculous to think that now two days are required to travel the length of the Islands. With the air services the islands would cease to be separated.-That would be the chief factor and would benefit 1 the whole of the country."