DEFENCE OF BRITAIN

Wairarapa Times-Age, 4 November 1938, Page 6

DEFENCE OF BRITAIN

PROGRESS WITH AIR RAID PRECAUTIONS

GOVERNMENT CRITICISED BY LABOUR PARTY. SIR SAMUEL HO ARE’S REPLY. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 11.35 a.m.) RUGBY, November 3. Opening the House of Commons debate on civil defence, Mr Herbert Morrison said the Labour Party was genuinely and seriously worried about the state of air raid precautions. He assured Sir John Anderson (Lord 1 Privy Seal) of the support of all parties and local authorities in the execution of his task in connection with air raid' precautions, but expressed doubts as to whether Sir John Anderson wouldhave the necessary authority and executive powers. He admitted that since Sir Samuel Hoare had been at the Home Office considerable progress had been made, but the general burden of his criticism was that there had been serious and avoidable delays, which discouraged both local authorities and individual volunteers. He said there were deficiencies in the supply of air equipment, including fire-fighting appliances and medical supplies and also criticised the inadequacy, of the Government action in the matter of the evacuation of parts of the civil population. He urged the provision of adequate shelter for everyone, despite its admittedly high cost.. Sir Samuel Hoare claimed that the system of air raid precautions: already in existence in Britain compared favourably with that of any other country except Germany, which had begun to prepare very much earlier. He outlined notable achievements in respect to the recruitment of volunteers, the distribution of gas masks and the provision of trenches and- announced the Government’s intention to consider a much more comprehensive shelter policy. Dealing; with personnel, Sir Hamuel Hoare said, one of Sir John Anderson’s principal duties would' be to deal with the question of a national register, and the national utilisation of national service. He also claimed that the evacuation plans of the Government were far in advance of anything which l had been worked out in- any other country. Charges of profiteering were being investigated.

A Labour motion was defeated by 355 votes to 130, and a Government amendment was adopted without a division.