N.Z. Air Defences

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 211, 22 September 1937, Page 4

N.Z. Air Defences

Our Own Correspondent.)

TERRITORIAL FORCE Big Numbers of Recruits Offering MINISTER OUTLINES PLANS

(From

WELLINGTON, Last Night. Now that the first step in the defence reorganisation schem© has been takem with tho enlistment of the first quota for tlie coastal defence special reserve, the Defence Department will be able to attend to the formation and training of the territorial air forco, and it is probabie that a start on enlistments will be made in a few weeks. The Miihster of Defence, the Hon. F. Jones, announced a few weeks ago that 12 Baftin aircraft had been purchased in Britain. to establish the Wellington squadron for coastal reconuaissance work, and these machines are now expected to arrive in New Zealand about the end of the year. In discussing tlie position, the Minister said that the machines purchased had been used, but that fully 75 per cent of their usei'ul life still remained. They would be admirably sUited to tlie training of territorials because they had not cost a great deal and would not involve a gi'eat loss in the event of clamage. 'They would provide for the Wellington squadron only and the men tranied v^ould be given actual reconnaissance work around Cook Btrait. Tlie question of forming sihiilar squadrons in other centres had not yet been considered. There would be Uo difficuity about secUring volunteers for territorial training in tlie air. Young men were keenly interested iu the air, aiid, for that nlatter, in all mechanicai units of the forces. ^ Night*School Work. It is understood that, altkough the recruiting for the territorial air force lias not yet commenced, recruits are offering freely. Those off'ering include young men of excellent edffcational attainments, and these are considered to be a desirable type for air training. When the training conimencea, it ls probabie that a considerable ainount of mglit-school work will be undertakeff. Iteferring to military aerodromes , generally, the Minister confirmed that the area secured at Ohakea, near Palmerston North, would be the main aero-di-oine for New Zealand. Wigi'aw would be the training centre for the regular force, while a military aerodrome had still to be secured i'cr the Auckland province. Dominion Must Wait« Questioned in regard to tlie bombing aeroplaues to be used against raidilig forces, the Minister, alter indicating that tlie position iu the Far East had not aff'ected the situation as lar as the speeding up of ordcrs was concerneci, said that New Zealand would necessarily have to wait Until tlie factories were in. a position to turn out machines other than those immediately rcquired l'or rearmament in lirituin. Ue indicated tliat the machines tliat would eventually be secured for air defeuco in New Zealand Would have high speed and long range, and would be able to hop rapidly from oue end of New Zealand to the other. It is gath* ered tliat the military autliorities are of the opinion tliat the longer New Zealand is able to wait before" estabiisliing powerful bombing fieets the b(/tter the position. will be on account of the astonlSkmgly rapid -changes which are taking place 111 design and range of the machines, the opinion being that tlie pre-sent-time equipliient quickly becomes obsolete.