N.Z. DEFENCES

Hokitika Guardian, 17 April 1930, Page 5

N.Z. DEFENCES

THE NEW SCHEME.

(By Telegraph—Press Association).

WELLINGTON, April 15

Before any definite decisions are reached in regard to the remodelling of the defence system, the Government will consider suggestions made by the General Officer Commanding the New Zealand forces (Major General Young.) The Senior Officers at Headquarters are at present engaged on the preparation of a scheme, which will be .submitted to the Minister of Defence, Hon. Mr Cobbe, who in turn will submit recommendations to the Cabinet.

The scheme will he based on the opinions expressed at a Conference of Senior Staff Officers that was nerd in Wellington recentlv.

Speaking at a New Zealand Club luncheon tp-dav. Wimr Commander Stuart Grant Dalton, Director of Air services in New Zealand, discussing the problems of Air defence, said that what New Zealand wanted for defence purposes was firstly seaplanes that could find if any enemy cruisers were cruising around. New Zealand did not expect to be attacked except by odd cruisers, and the Air Force had got to keep them at “ arm’s length.” They could ib«4 and would be, kept off, if New Zealand had flying boats which could go 200 and 250 miles out to sen and back, but for actually attacking such cruisers they would need not merely scouting seaplanes, but big torpedo carrying machines.'' He was perfectly certain that in future the torpedocarrying plane would be one of tho mast important weapons.