BALLOON BARRAGE

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 12, 29 January 1937, Page 7

BALLOON BARRAGE

— Press Assn.-

Progress of British Air Defences NEW MACHINES ONLY

(By Teleeranh

— Conyright.)

LONDON, Jan. 27. "Stop this rubbisb! Only a farmers' poiicy can gaye the cnuntry and stop warj" shouted a man frojn the puhlic gallery in the Hquse of Conjmons at the opening of the deh*te on air defences. Sir Thomas Inskip, Minister for the Co-ordination of Defence, said he regretted yarious speakers' references to Uermany, towards whom we have nothing but the friendliest and most peaceable intentions. '■'Experience has shown," he said, "kow laborious rnusi be the process of bnilding up air defences to capaeity after a lopg, leisurely poriod of production. Nevertheless, we are a long way ahead of any sehedule that could liave been acheved by the old method. There would have been no difficulty in forming squadrons if the Government had taken the easier path of ordering old instead of new types of machines. slt is anticipated," he continued, "that a hundred squadrons will be f ormed by the end of March and the rate of progress will be aecentuated as the mpnths pass. "The position with regard to the shadow factories was that they would begin production of air frapies in the Austin factory in the autumn and engines in January, 1938. The erection of other factories was reaching the advanced stage. • "Provision had been made for the air defence of London, including a balloon barrage.