DEFENCE FORCES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 27 July 1939, Page 7

DEFENCE FORCES

PROVISION FOR RAPID EXPANSION STAFF CORPS AND AIR TRAINING. ANNOUNCED BY MINISTER. (By Telegraph—Press Association.! WELLINGTON. July 26. The Minister of Defence (Mr Jones) announced today that provision had been made for a rapid expansion of the defence forces of New Zealand. The personnel of the regular forces would be increased from 430 to 600. at an initial cost of £12.000. and an estimated annual expenditure of £45,000. At the same time, the peace establishment of officers of the New Zealand Staff Corps and Royal New Zealand Artillery would be lifted from 96 to 140. The Minister said he was also anxious to raise the facilities for the training of Air Force pilots to maximum efficiency with the least possible delay. To this end. an arrangement had been made to establish two fullscale flying training schools. With this in view, the Minister has obtained authority to use the services of a number of officers of the Royal Air Force who will be sent to New Zealand on : loan for two years. These include one wing-commander, two squadronleaders. one flying instructor, one engineer officer and 24 fitters. An expenditure of £15.000 is involved in this arrangement. Six Airspeeds Oxfords will be purchased at a cost of £50.000 to augment machines of this type already in use in New Zealand. In addition. £119,000 will be spent on the purchase of other types of aircraft from the United Kingdom. The creation of a new Royal New Zealand Air Force station at Blenheim at an estimated cost of £94.000 and the accommodation required for the Territorial Air Force at Whenuapai involve another £26,000. Additional hangars needed at Wigram means an expenditure of £67.000. which has already been approved.