DOMINION DEFENCE

Evening Star, Issue 23698, 4 October 1940, Page 4

DOMINION DEFENCE

N.z. WILL HAVE 25,000 TERRITORIALS AIR ARM STRENGTHENED EMPIRE TRAINING SCHEME [From Our Parliamentary Reporter.] WELLINGTON, October 3When all Territorials had received three months’ continuous training, stated Mr Jones, Minister of Defence, in the House to-night, New Zealand would have 25,000 men who would provide a splendid defence for the Dominion. These, with the additional units of the National Military Reserve, would make the country fairly well provided for. Air Force expansion was also indicated by the Minister, who said additional squadrons were being provided, and also new stations for the Air Force, which meant an increased cost for buildings and personnel. “ We want,” he said, “ to provide protective air forces in conjunction vvith the other forces for the defence of this country.” This, he explained, would not interfere with the Empire training scheme, which would cost New Zealand £7,500,000 for a period of three and one-third years. Tho Dominion had been welt treated in tho supply of aircraft for its expansion scheme, and tho air personnel overseas was doing a great job, our boys being right into it. CASUALTIES. New Zealand casualties in the Air Force since tho war began were: — Killed, 79; missing, believed killed, 29; missing, 49 ; prisoners, 15 ; wounded, 21; total. 187. He paid a high tribute to tho relatives of those men, for ho had been proud to receive letters from their relatives. PROGRAMME SPEEDED UP. The air training programme was being accelerated, enabling Now Zealand to send an additional - 900 men overseas annually. New Zealand observers and air gunners would be training in Canada in the next few months, and early next year we would start sending some of our pilots to Canada for training, while others would go direct to, the Old Country. The personnel of the Air Force, including those who had left, would at December 31 next comprise— Pilots 674, observers 322, air gunners 469; t0ta1,’1,465, which he considered a splendid total. They would be all trained to an advanced stage. Approximately, New Zealand had 1.000 airmen in Britain now. These developments had meant a huge programme of expenditure, hut it had been justified by results. J NAVY AND ARMY. So far as the Navy was concerned, continued the Minister, its strength had been increased by over 100 per cent., and over 80 per cent, were New Zealanders. He aid not overlook the work of tho mercantile marine, whoso men risked their lives in every sea. There was a building programme at the naval base which had been delayed through the war. but was now proceeding. Th© Minister referred to the value of the recent staff corps discussions in Australia, which promoted the co-opera-tive spirit so much desired. The further conference at Delhi would be also valuable. “ Our forces arc in great heart, not only in Egypt, but in Britain,” concluded Mr Jones. “ They arc well trained, and are waiting for the day when the enemies of Britain try to invade those particular countries.”