N.Z. Aerial Defence System Must Wait

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 730, 1 August 1929, Page 7

N.Z. Aerial Defence System Must Wait

COST TOO GREAT GOVERNMENT’S POLICY (THE SUN'S Parliamentary Reporter) PARLIAMENT BLDG., Wednesday. While half a million is being spent on military training, it is not j possible to have an extensive aerial defence system, said -the Prime Minister in the course of the debate on the Compulsory Military Service Repeal Bill. j “Aerial defence must wait,” he said. It was not possible to have both \ systems of defence in operation in j New Zealand at the same time, said j the Prime Minister. To introduce a ! system of aerial defence and to main- ; tain the present land defence j system would entail a cost the country could not stand. The present system cost £500,000 a year, and aerial defence would cost another £500,000. If one were to be adopted the other would have to be done away with. The country might not have an aerial defence system until the present one was done away with. This could not be done in two or three months. Sir Joseph warned enthusiasts for aerial defence that the system was expensive and might be more expensive than they bargained for. In England it cost a flyer £2O a year in private expenses to learn. If the State took up the system enthusiasts might not find it so cheap and inexpensive. A Voice: Cheaper than dreadnoughts. Sir Joseph: I must say that’s a wonderfully clever interjection. The Voice: I'm seeking information.