AIR DEFENCE OF LONDON

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22520, 30 September 1938, Page 12

AIR DEFENCE OF LONDON

Precautions Considered

Adequate

OPINION OF VISITING OFFICER v ITHE PRESS Special Service.] • WELLINGTON, September 29

Although to modern war aeroplanes London is within 10 minutes of the coast, and would consequently have scant warning of an impending air raid, a military man who arrived in Wellington to-day gave it as his opinion that the Empire's capital was adequately protected. He was Lieutenant-Colonel L. D. Bennett, M.C., T.D., Officer Commanding the London Scottish, Regiment, who arrived at Wellington by the Remuera on a business visit. LieutenantColonel Bennett said that in London there was a good deal of anxiety concerning the peril of attack from the air. It was generally considered, however, that the military defences of the city were adequate to protect it agiinst such a contingency. Although he himself was not concerned with anti-aircraft defence, he believed that even if the precautions proved unable to stave off attacking aeroplanes entirely, they would certainly give a good account of themselves.

Asked whether the balloon barrage of London was completed, and likely to prove an effective factor in defending the city, he said he did not know. A great deal of secrecy was observed on the whole subject. His regiment, the London Scottish, was at present 20 per cent, above establishment strength, and numbered 7464 officers and men. It formed part of the British territorial forces; but in addition it served as a club for Scots living in London. The qualification for membership was Scottish birth or parentage.

The Samoa Legislative Council Elective Membership Amendment Order, 1938, was published with the Gazette last night. This order contains provisions for the extension of the franchise to all European adults. Previously the franchise was limited to males with certain income and property qualifications.—Press Association.

Wellington College will soori have a pipe band. A dozen or so boys have been practising assiduously for the last three months, according to a report from Mr W'.'.A. Armour, received at a meeting of the Wellington Colleges Board of Governors, and by next year it is expected that they will be proficient enough to play in public. The next move, it was suggested, would be the purchase of uniforms and perhaps some instruments, satisfactory arrangements having been made about tuition. The band, said Mr Armour, would be a splendid acquisition to the cadet battalion.

A record total of 142,983 electors will be entitled to vote for the candidates in the nine Auckland electorates at the General Election. This compares with a total of 1259.86 in 1935. The final counting of the main and supplementary rolls was completed at the office of the Registrar of Electors, Mr J. H. V. Carr, last night, and now rapid progress will be possible with the printing of the supplementary rolls, which should be ready about next Wednesday. In only one case, that of Roskill, has the roll showed a decrease.—Press Association.

A "stick" type, rubber-powered model aeroplane, built by Mr V. Officer, of Invercargill, which flew out of sight from the Gore aerodrome on Sunday, was found at Knapdale later in the day. The model had covered a distance of about five miles with a motor run of between SO and 40 seconds. It was last seen in the air circling at about 1000 feet, moving in a northeasterly direction, after having been flying for about 25 minutes (unofficial time). The model was, only making a trial, flight and the motor was not fully wound. Upon being released it climbed about 30 feet, when the motor ceased driving the model aeroplane, after which it glided into a thermal and soared to an altitude of more than 1000 feet.

A violent north-westerly storm on September 14 completely wrecked the No. 1 Public Works camp at Milford Sound, but no one was injured. Thunder and lightning, accompanied the gale, which plucked the tents from the ground; and-; dumped them hundreds of feet away. ..-Trees;were uprooted, and sheets of iron hurtled through the air. Although no one was injured, there were-many narrow escapes. One workman was lying in bed with measles, when an iron gable, shorn from a hut some distance away, was,, hurled against his tent. It struck one of the stout poles of the tent. The man was tanacathed. —Press Association.