DOMINION PILOTS

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20054, 28 September 1939, Page 4

DOMINION PILOTS

AID IN AIR FORCE TRAINING IN NEW ZEALAND OBSERVERS AND GUNNERS WORK SPEEDED UP (Piirlinlnontnry Reporter.) WELLINGTON, this day. New Zealand's first overseas war effort, is to provide GSO pilots and GSO observers and air gunners every year while the war lasts. These are to be despatched immediately they are trained.

The Minister of Defence, the Hon. F. Jones, informed the House of Representatives last evening, that this decision was reached at the Pacific defence conference some months ago and preparations had commenced, but war came before the plans had been completed with the result that they were faced with the task of speeding-up the provision for training centres, not only to provide au air force for the defence of New Zealand, but sufficient to meet the promise to the Imperial Government.

This work was in progress at New Plymouth, where a large sum _of money was being spent, at the Taicri aerodrome, where buildings and equipment for the personnel had to be provided and also at Mangere, Ohakea and Whenuapai.

It was estimated that the cost <4 mobilising the Territorial Air Force was £75,000. The Defence Department had to take over all civil planes throughout New Zealand for training the personnel which was to be sent overseas, this involving a purchase price of £125,000. Tire regular air force establishment was being enlarged at an increased cost of £150,000, while the additional expenditure on buildings and equipment for air force stations was £7OO, 000, making a grand total of £1.050,000.

The framing of personnel at the railway workshops was also being undertaken.

Britain could turn out any amount of planes if New Zealand could provide the trained pilots, observers and air gunners. This would be our contribution and the British Air Minister, Sir Kingsley Wood, had declared that New Zealand was making a great contribution in providing 1300 pilots, air gunners and observers for the Royal Air Force. By next July New Zcalani would be sending away these trained men at the full rate, but in November they would be able to send the first contingent of airmen overseas. Although it was a big job, New Zealand would redeem its promise to the Imperial Government and endeavour to exceed the number mentioned.