AUSTRALIAN VISIT

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21231, 30 September 1940, Page 9

AUSTRALIAN VISIT

CHIEFS OF STAFFS CO-OPERATIVE WAR EFFORT AUTHORITIES FOUND KEEN (By Telegraph.— special to Times) AUCKLAND, Monday Major-General Sir John Duigan. Chief of the General Staff, and Group-Captain H. W. L. Saunders, Chief of the Air Staff, returned by the flying-boat Awarua yesterday morning after a brief visit to Australia. The object of their visit wa* to promote closer co-operation in £he war effort of the two countries. “The visit will lead to closer cooperation in our plans and in every other way,” said Sir John. “We found everyone most hospitable and helpful, from the Governor-General, Lord Gowrie, downward, and they could not do enough for us.” Sir John spent a considerable part of his time at the Army Headquarters in Melbourne in discussions with the general staff, and he also visited Duntroon Military College, where he found that the 16 New Zealand boys were doing well and had won a good name for themselves. Sir John said the Australian authorities were most eager for cooperation with New Zealand. “A great many of them were commenting on the grand effort that New Zealand is making, and so we are,” said Sir John. Group-Captain Saunders commented on the big Empire air training scheme in force in Australia, and said he visited a number of the larger stations. “There are a lot of things we can learn from them, and some, perhaps, they could learn from us,” he said. “Their aircraft industry appears to be expanding rapidly. We had useful discussions on details of co-operation. The visit has been a great success, and I hope some of their representatives will be able to return it.” Sir John and Group-Captain Saunders returned to Wellington by train last night and will present their reports to the \>'ar Cabinet at an early oppe/tunity.