AIR REARMAMENT

Wairarapa Times-Age, 4 May 1938, Page 7

AIR REARMAMENT

TALK OF MUDDLE AND WASTE IN BRITAIN

Bankers Considering Public Protest

By Telegraph—Press Association. —Copyright.

SERIOUSJJIARGES GOVERNMENT ACCUSED OF APATHY NEGLECT OF AIR DEFENCE PREPARATIONS MANY VITAL NEEDS SAID TO BE UNSATISFIED By Telegraph—Press Association. Copyright. LONDON, May 3. The city editor of the “Daily Mail” says bankers and financial circles are alarmed at the lack of progress in air rearmament and are privately discussing action to impress their misgivings upon the Government. It is even suggested that a manifesto should be presented similar to the manifesto of 1931, which called on the Labour Government to retrench expenditure and reestablish credit. It is understood the bankers’ consideration of a public protest is due to the aircraft industry’s reluctance to speak

out, owing to the possibility of contravening the Official Secrets Act, although there are many allegations of muddle and waste.

The “News Chronicle” in the same way alleges inadequacy and muddle in air defence preparations, adding that civilians, are still virtually defenceless. If war were to break out the Government would be unable to give warning of the approach of air raiders, as the necessary sirens have not been manufactured and air-raid shelters for the public caught in the streets are nonexistent. The suggested system of trenches in parks and open spaces is still incomplete on paper, and the fire fighting system is still not ready and volunteers are lacking.

Although France and Germany are enfocing laws that new buildings shall comply with specifications providing protection against fire and bomb splinters, the British Government for three years had watched the building of hundreds of blocks of flats and offices, of which only a fraction contain air-raid precautions.