AIR FORCE BILL

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 35, 4 November 1937, Page 9

AIR FORCE BILL

-Preas Association.)

Support in Upper House

iBy Telegraph-

WELLINGTON, This Day. Moving the committal of the Air Force Bill in the Legislative Council the leader of the Council (Hon. Masrk Fagan) referred to the. comparatively slow growth of aviation in New Zealand before 1935 when compared with other parts of the world. There were always differences of opinion regarding defence, but his opinion was that all the services should be developed together because each branch would have advantages under certain circumstances. , Hon. F. Waite said if New Zealand was to spend money on defence it sho.uld be spent in the rig^fc way and he was pleased to support the Bill. An air force was required for the defence of New Zealand. The air arm was an offensive rather than a defensive weapon because aeroplanes were of no use on the ground and consequently the army was required for their protection when, they were not in action. New Zealand also required a prospective expeditionary force hecause the first line of defence might be in Northern Australia, India, Egypt or the Mediterranean. Hon. W. Perry said he knew the Government had the approval of the country in the defmite step it had taken in defence of the country and the defence measures under consideration" would also enable the country to' play its part in the defence of the Empire. Hon. J. Alexander tsaid the Bills before the Council should be welcomed by all because they provided for a defence force in addition to the existing forces. In his opinion one good defence forc9 was worth more than any League. Sir Jamea Allen expressed pleasure at the Imperial aspect of the defence proposals. , Hon/ E. R. Davis expressed the ' opinion that air forces would eventually prove superiox to all other forces.