GIFT PLANES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 24 August 1940, Page 4

GIFT PLANES

NEW ZEALAND OFFER TO BRITAIN SOUTHLAND LEADS WAY. LORD BEAVERBROOK'S GRATITUDE. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, This Day. The spontaneous movement throughout New Zealand to present gift aeroplanes to the British Government has evoked considerable interest in Bntain. The Prime Minister, Mr Fraser, yes-, terday dispatched a cablegram to the British Prime Minister, Mr Churchill, stating that the people of Southland asked the British Government to accept £21,000 for the purchase of fighter aeroplanes, one of which they hoped would be named “Southland” and flown by a Southland or New Zealand pilot. The sum of £10,500 would be forwarded forthwith.

The Minister of Aircraft Production, Lord Beaverbrook, replied: "We are rejoiced to hear of Southland's fine effort and of the funds now being raised in New Zealand to give planes to the R.A.F. New Zealand, through her valiant sons and the splendid formations organised by the Dominion Government, and by her part in the Empire Air Scheme, already is making a contribution to the common cause which stirs the admiration of the whole Empire. New Zealand pilots fighting in the R.A.F. are the terror of our enemies. New Zealand gifts of aircraft will be gratefully received. We shall rejoice to see them among the squadrons that guard our citadel.”

DOMINION EFFORT NO COLLECTION AFTER SEPTEMBER 30. STATEMENT BY FINANCE MINISTER. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, This Day. No money is to be collected after September 30 next for the purpose of presenting fighter aeroplanes to the United Kingdom Government, and all organisations and persons desiring to collect must obtain the consent of the Minister of Finance and keep a complete record of amounts received. This was announced yesterday by the Minister of Finance, Mr Nash, in a further statement on gift aeroplanes.

Mr Nash said the Government were very pleased with the widespread support which was being given to the Government’s decision to set aside a total of £lOO,OOO (New Zealand) from the Dominion’s overseas funds for the purpose of recognising in tangible form the outstanding the Royal Air Force. To this end, an?R

in order that all parts of the Dominion should have the opportunity of adequate representation in the gift, it had been decided to provide for collections in the provincial patriotic districts and to request the United Kingdom Government to name the planes purchased after the districts where the funds are collected.

The districts referred to are: Auckland, East Coast, Hawke's Bay, Taranaki, Wellington, Marlborough, Nelson., Canterbury, Otago, Southland, Westland.

All moneys so collected will be credited to the War Expenses Account and disbursed to the extent of the first £ 100.000 by the payment to the United Kingdom Government for the purchase of fighter aeroplanes for the Royal Air Force and any balance will be allocated toward New Zealand’s share of the cost of the Empire air training scheme in Canada or the purchase of new machines for the defence of New Zealand.

SIXTEEN FIGHTERS. Mr Nash said that, in view of New Zealand’s commitments overseas, the gift to the British Government which, it was understood, would be sufficient to enable 16 fighter aeroplanes to be provided, must be limited to £lOO.OOO. The provision of these funds would not increase the supply of planes, as the factories were already working to capacity, but it would indicate the appreciation in this Dominion of the outstanding achievements of the Royal Air Force.

To the extent that the contributions toward the Empire air training scheme could be provided from New Zealand, it would free United Kingdom resources for payment of further planes or other war materials. To facilitate the raising of the necessary funds, the collection of moneys for this purpose had been exempted from the provisions of the Patriotic Purposes Emergency Regulations. 1939. which would enable collections to be made by local authorities. newspapers, or by such other authorities or persons as the Minister of Finance might approve. Exemption from the regulations referred to would be conditional on the following provisions:—

(a) That no such moneys should bej collected after September 30. 1940; (b) That all organisations or persons desiring to collect should obtain the* consent of the Minister of Finance and' keep a complete record of amounts received. After collections ceased on September 30. a statement would be published show/ing details of the amount, received and the disbursements.