AUSTRALIAN UNIT

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20084, 2 November 1939, Page 7

AUSTRALIAN UNIT

REMAINING AT HOME NEW AIR FORCE EQUIPMENT SCHEME WIDE EXTENSIONS (E]«c. Tel. Copyriclit—Unitnd Press Assn.) (Reed. Nov. 1. 2 p.m.) SYDNEY, Nov. 1. The Australian Prime Minister, Mr. R. G. Menzics. lias announced that the Cabinet has approved of the establishment, without delay, of a factory for the manufacture of large aeroplane engines to supply, not only the 'requirements of Australia, but also in part those of Britain and other of the Dominions. Mr. Menzics announced that the whole of Australia's air force plans have been recast as a result of conferences between the Australian and British Governments. He said that the Air Expeditionary Force, which was still in the process of formation, would not be sent abroad. Instead Australia's future air plans woula depend on the decisions at the Canadian conference.

Immediate Assistance Immediate assistance that Australia would give to the British Government would be to leave in England the nine Sunderland flying boats due to be sent to Australia and in addition to provide 17 officer's and ICC airmen as crews, the unit becoming an Australian reconnaissance squadron. The British Government had requested that Australia should continue to manufacture large plane engines of the type required .for Beauforts for internal use and export, which would mean a tremendous expansion in the aircraft industry in Australia. Mr. Menzies added that every effort would now be put .forward to speen up the construction of engines of the fighter type of plane.