SEVERE CRITICISM

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 367, 31 October 1932, Page 3

SEVERE CRITICISM

AVIATION POLICY GOVERNMENT CUT IN SUBSIDIES TO AERO CLUBS TRUST BETRAYED Th'e Government's* poliey in regard to aviation is severely eritieised editorially by "Wings," tbe offieial journal of the New Zealand Aero Club. "While fully appreeiating the enormous difficulties facing the Government when it assumed offiee and the able manner in which most of these problems have been handled, one is reluetantly forced to'the eonclusion that, as far as aviation is concerned, the present Government is absolutely devoid of anything approaching a poliey, unless it be one of drift," the writer comments. "On the military side we have a Permanent Air Force with a small personnel of the highest calibre prevented from rendering anything like effective service owing to lack of equipment and material. In the words of BairnsfathOr, the New Zealand Air Force 'may never die,' but it certainly will 'simply fade away,' unless the members of the Cahinet wake up to the fact that the present almost criminal neglect of this vital arm of defence constitutes a betrayal of the trust imposed. on them by the electors, a betrayal, moreover, for which we in New Zealand will pay- dearly should we be involved in a national crisis before our defensive Air Force is put on a basis which will ensure a reasonable margin of safety. "In addition to the Permanent Air Force, we have in New Zealand a Territorial Air Force consisting of four squadrons and 74 trained pilots with no machines available for use in case of emergency. "Turning to civil aviation, we find the same utter lack of poliey. With the exception of ours, every Government in the British Empire'and most foreign Governments realise the vital necessity — if they are to keep abreast with the march of progress — of giving practical assistance to the youngest of all forms of transport until such time as it can stand alone. Reduction in Votes "New Zealand is not the only country hard hit by the economic depression, but what do we find: New Zealand reducing the suhsidy to aero elubs for pilots of military age trained from £500 per annum to approximately £200 per annum, while the British Government has recently fixed the maximum subsidy payable to aero clubs at £1500 per club per annum", this maximum figure to stand for the next five years. "A perusal of the figures given in the offieial • review qf civil aviation progress, issued by the British Government, is illuminating, and should make every patriotit New Zealander hang his head in shame. "The following are the amounts allotted by the respective Governments of the Empire during 1931-32 to civil aviation: — Great Britain, £523,400; Canada, £591,040; Australia, £140,610; South Africa, £106,000; India, £172,918; African Colonies and the Sudan, £77,003; New Zealand, £2108."