ARMS COMMISSION

Waikato Times, Volume 119, Issue 19879, 7 May 1936, Page 8

ARMS COMMISSION

MR LLOYD GEORGES VIEW. STATE MONOPOLV URGED. DREADNOL‘GHT PANIC RECALLED. United Press Assn—Elem Tel. Copyright. (Received May 7, 3 p. 111.) LUNDON, May 6. Arguing that the manufacture of arms ought to be a Government mon—opoly, .\lr Lloyd George, giving evi—dence before the Arms Commission, re—‘called the pre-war Dreadnought panic. ‘ He said that Germany‘s naval pro—gramme was then exaggerated, and there was great agitation for big ships. Armament firms sane evidence Ito the_Cabinet Committee to the eilfect that they possessed secret information that German}. was laying down ships considerably in excess of the published statutory naval plan, and no doubt that evidence influenced the Cabinet. It. however. turned out completer inac—curate, but in the meantime had div—erted the Admiralty from building small craft. There was more proilt 111 big ships. ,

“From all I hear," said .\lr Lloyd George, " the armament interests in France are just as active on the same lines to—day, and their methods are even more pernicious."