THE AIR FORCE

Waikato Times, Volume 122, Issue 20497, 13 May 1938, Page 7

THE AIR FORCE

EXPANSION PROGRAMME GREAT INCREASE IN STRENGTH REPLY TO OPPOSITION ATTACK (Official Wireless (Received May 13, 11 a.m.) RUGBY, May 12. The House of Commons was crowded for the debate on the Air Ministry vote. , Lord Wlnterton, who was recently appointed deputy in the House of Commons to Viscount Bwinton, Air Minister, Intervening In the debate at an early stags, met the Opposition's attack on the air programme by the disclosure of what he described as a “new programme” which “entirely overshadows the programme we undertook three years ago, which Itself was absolutely unprecedented In peace-time."

As an indication of the scale of the new programme the Minister mentioned that in the personnel an expansion of no fewer than 40,000 officers | and men would be required, bringing the personnel of the Royal Air Force to M 0,000. Lord Winterton gave an assurance that the tdea that the execution of the programme was greatly in arrears was absolutely mistaken. The scheme under which a lirst-line . ir sf cngtii of 1750 was to be reached by next April was all up to schedule. That strength would certainly be reached by the date stipulated, and lie believed considerably earlier. The position regarding re serves was also satisfactory- Moreover, he scale on which factories had be«*n planned and orders placed would make it possible, If the necessary labour was available, to rapidly extend the output to meet the immense demands of Hie new programme. Big Increase In Output The Ministry had informed the Government that, given 1 lie necessary equipment, it estimated that the output of aeroplanes and engines could be Increased by well over 50 per cent during the next twelve months, and during the succeeding year could be increased to figures three times the i present size. Lord Wlnterton declared emphatically that the Royal Air Force as a whole was not behind other air forces In the up-to-dateness and newness of l\s machines. 1 The existing types were satisfactory, and a few types were even better. The production of engines was increasing rapidly and in this connection the “shadow scheme*' had fully justified itself. There was now a vast field of actual and potential produc- | tion. Purchases from America ! Dealing with purchases from the , United States, Lord Winterton said it ! must be remembered that production |in the United states was small compared with that in the United KingJdom. It was only certain types—mostly for training— that might be bought in the agenda. “More Important in connection with the experts mission recently sent across the Atlantic was the possibility of building up large war material in Canada. He said there was no real hope of aircraft being turned out bymass production in the sense that some people used the phrase, nor did those methods exist for such work in any * other country. He could say that the apprehension that firms In the aircraft industry were not full up with orders ; was unjustified- The industry was in a much better position to-day than it was three years ago to undertake the vast expansion required. The numbers of employed had Increased from 30,000 to over 90,000. Programmes of Foreign Powers Lord Winterton, referring to the programmes of foreign Powers, gave an assurance that the British programme had been framed in the light of the best estimate as to the largeforces which could be brought acainst Britain in war. It was de- ' signed as a formidable deterrent ' aeainst aggression and an effective defence in the event of attack. The defence of Britain must be regarded as a whole. They were carrying out re-armament on e vast scale of extensions, refitments, rebulldlngs, and rei equipment In all the three services, at a cost approaching astronomical proportions. Labour Party’s Motion The Labour Party decided to table the following motion: — “That In the opinion of the House the growing public concern regarding th 9 state of the air defences and the administration of the departments concerned calls for a complete and searching Ini 1 dependent inquiry."

REPLY TO CRITICISM IN THE HOUBE OF LORDB WORK IN AIRCRAFT INDUSTRY j great I.NCREASE IX EMPLOYEES I I nited rrcss Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) v ßeceived May 13, 1 pin.) LU.NDON. May 12. Viscount Swinton. in the House of ! f.ords. replying to criticism of the Air . Force expansion, said there had been a shortage of skilled labour because the programme coincided with the ex- ' pansion of ordinary trade, but the number employed in the aircraft industry had increased from 30.000 in | 1938 to over 90,000. It had been j said that men were being discharged. The firms could not always employ the i same number.