HUGE OUTLAY

Waikato Times, Volume 125, Issue 20992, 20 December 1939, Page 8

HUGE OUTLAY

THREE=YEAR SCHEME PROBABLE EMPIRE STRENGTH IMMEDIATE OPERATION (United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) OTTAWA, Dec. 19 The Empire air training scheme centred in Canada provides for an estimated expenditure of 600,000,000 dollars, over a period of three years and three months. The full details of the text are witheld, but an official summary states that the cost will be borne by Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Britain on a percentage basis of student allotments. Canada’s share will be 350,000,000 dollars. The fullest staff of 40,000, exclusive of students, includes 2700 officers, 6000 civilians and 30,000 technicians, to handle administration and instruction. There will be 67 bases in Canada and hundreds of aircraft, mostly supplied by Britain. Sixty new airports will be needed. The New York Times estimates that the scheme will supply 25,000 pilots a year, 10,000 from Canada, 2000 from Australia and 2500 from New Zealand, exclusive of 6000 who are expected to complete their training each year in Australia. Plans for Training The Prime Minister of Canada, Mr Mackenzie King, stated that fourfifths of the pupils would be Canadians. The preliminary stage ol training would be for four weeks, for the selection of pilots, observers and gunners. The Australian pilots would first be trained at home. Pilots would spend 14 weeks, distributed over 16 schools, learning advanced flying, night flying, blind flying, bombing and fighting. Observers would spend 12 weeks at one of 10 schools, learning navigation, reconnaissance work and photography, and six weeks at the bombing and gunnery schools. Gunners would train for 16 weeks at one of four wireless schools, and for four weeks at a gunnery school. Lord Riverdale, leader of the-Brit-ish mission, initialled the agreement on behalf of Australia. It will come into immediate operation and will be administered by a board including representatives of the Dominions and a chief of air staff under the Canadian Minister of Defence. It is provided that if the Dominions fail to fill their allotments, their share of costs will not be altered. Canada will bear the costs of transport. The Canadian scale of pay and allowances will apply to students from the point of enlistment in Australia until thenembarkation.