BRITISH AIR FORCE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 26 May 1938, Page 7

BRITISH AIR FORCE

ONE OF THE MOST FORMIDABLE IN THE WORLD Prime Minister Rejects Labour Demand For Inquiry ON'GROUND THAT IT WOULD DISSIPATE ENERGIES By Telegraph—Press Association. —Copyright. (Recd This Day, 10.20 a.m.) LONDON, May 25. In the House of Commons the Prime Minister, the Rt Hon Neville Chamberlain, refused a Labour demand for an inquiry into the air defences, on the ground that it would dissipate energies. He said the British Air Force today, if tested, would prove one of the most formidable fighting machines in the world. British bombers at present were the fastest'in the world and new types ordered were not likely to be surpassed anywhere. The shadow factories were second to none in the world. GOVERNMENT’S STAND. MOTION TREATED AS ONE OF CENSURE. MR, CHAMBERLAIN IN FIGHTING FORM. (British Official Wireless.) (Recd This Day, 11.3 a.m.) RUGBY, May 25. The postponed debate in the House of Commons on the Labour Party motion demanding a searching inquiry into air defences was opened by Dr Hugh Dalton, who was followed immediately by the Prime Minister. After making the point that the Government must regard the demand for an inquiry as showing a want of confidence and therefore must treat the motion, as one of censure, Mr Chamberlain said: “I am not here to deny that there have been delays and disappointments and checks in the programme, which has been altered from time to time, and expanded according to what we considered to be the needs of the moment. On the other hand, I have no hesitation in saying that in the Air Force as it stands, the country has a defence of which any country may be proud, and that if it were put to the test tomorrow, with whatever deficiencies there may be, it would prove to be one ,of the most formidable fighting machines in the world.” ,“The Government was rejecting an inquiry,” Mr Chamberlain added “chiefly because it would not help the purpose which all parties were united in wishing to see achieved, namely, securing as speedily as possible an Air Force complete and efficient in all respects. On the contrary, an inquiry would introduce confusion and delay.” Turning to the Ministry of Supply, Mr Chamberlain commented on the number of rival proposals before the public, but declared that all of them suffered from the disadvantage that they would dislocate the present machinery, which was working well.