AIRCRAFT REPAIRERS.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 252, 21 September 1940, Page 8

AIRCRAFT REPAIRERS.

TRIBUTE BY MINISTER

(British Official Wireless.)

(Rec. 8.5 a.m.) RUGBY, Sept. 19. A message was issued to-night by Lord Beaverbrook (Minister of Aircraft Production) to the repair organisation of the aircraft industry, in which he gives the highest praise to their magnificent work, both night and day, and their indifference to air raids, the maintenance of output in the face of danger, and the dwindling record of time out in the shelters.

For the week ended September 14, declared Lord Beaverbrook, the output in their repair organisations in operational types of aircraft —bombers and fighters—was in excess of all types lost and destroyed in battles and accidents.

One organisation, despite va6t grievous bombing, resulting in many casualties, had lost only two days. Another had lost only 15 minutes in a week.

GIFTS FOR PLANES.

Lord Beaverbrook acknowledges £lB7 towards the purchase of aircraft from the British, French, Portuguese and Peruvian residents of lquitos, on the River Amazon, Peru. The Governor of Kenya has gratefully accepted the offer by five local native councils in the Central Province of £10,095 from a reserve fund as a contribution from the Kikuyu, Kamba, and Meru Tribes towards the purchase of aircraft to be named Kikuyu, Kamba and Meru. Gratefully acknowledging a fine gift from the Durham Miners’ Association of £IO,OOO for the purchase of twcr Spitfires, Lord Beaverbrook wrote : “I have received in past weeks many generous contributions from abroad from all sections of the community at home towards the cost of new aircraft, but none lias moved me more deeply and given me such immense encouragement as the donation you have sent on behalf of the Durham Miners’ Association. From members of an industry which has known cruel hardship in the past has come a gift so generous that it must kindle the imagination of freedom-loving men and women the world over, giving them irrefutable proof of our determination to gain total victory over our enemies.”