AIR DEFENCE

Waikato Times, Volume 122, Issue 20498, 14 May 1938, Page 7

AIR DEFENCE

CONCERN IN BRITAIN OPPOSITION TO GOVERNMENT i DEMAND FOR AN INQUIRY lOfficial Wireless) Received May 14. 1 p.m RUGBY. May 13 Concern regarding progress with Urn \ ir r,.-cc expansion programme |.,.rsist**d after lasi night s debate in both Houses of Parliament and Hie fabling of a motion by the Labour Party calling for an inquiry. This w is followed by an announcei ment that two further motions had • been handed in. One standing in the name of the ! Opposition Liberals, calls for the appointment of a Select Committee to investigate aircraft supply. antiaircraft defence and air raid precaui tions. The other, which was backed by 16 Government supporters, including Mr Winston Churchill, welcomes the appointment of an independent commit- ; tee of Inquiry. Service In VJar 1 Speaking of the purposes of the experts’ visit to Canada to investigate . the possibilities for building lip a war potential. Lord Swinton foreshadowed aircraft manufactured there being flown across the Atlantic for service I in war. The Air Minister said a new technique in manufacture had be'n made necessary by the tlie order fov the large ali-metal. stressel-skln types, which had been found t«, make the most efficient bombers and fighters, and lie ridiculed the suggestion that aircraft now on order and In production for the Royal Air Fo*co were in any way less Ilian the best. They were highly satisfactory in quality, .and the best evidence of that was ihat it was the desire of foreign countries . in every part of the world to purchase those very machines, all hough they had to wait because of Hie priority of the Air Ministry’s requirements. As an inslance of the efficient manner in which the Air Minisfv wr.s organising the placing of vis* orders. Lord Swinton said they were sleadilv reducing the inulliplifiiy of types. Of one type there were 1500 ~n order with two firms, and of an-'lin* 900 were on order with a single firm. Appeal for Peace Lord Swinton ended with an impas- : sioned appeal for peace. | The Lords’ debate was notable for the intervention of Lord Wcr. who was Director-General of Aircraft Production In 1918. In an informed and authoritative speech he brought powerful reinforcement to the Air Minister’s defence of his department's handling of supply quesHons. Lord Weir asked Their Lordships to consider the various criticisms of the Government’s programme against the background of Hie two major political decisions which affected it. Three years ago the Government had decided to Increase the Air Force as rapidly as possible. The Government had reached a second decision not I only to accelerate and expand the existing programme, but to secure acceleration of expansion under Hie conditions of first priority in labour, material and facilities. Nothing was now* to be allowed to stand in the way of achieving the maximum rate of progress. Control of Man-Power This did not imply the equivalent of war conditions, which presumably would mean compulsory control of man-power and facilities, but it meant a general tempo of action as rapid as could be secured in time of peace. He believed the effects of the ! new* decision would lead to an output fully justifying the claims by Lord Swinton and Earl Wfntcrton. Lord Weir also drew attention to the early difficulties—now* overcome —due to the fact that the British aircraft Industry, which through the post-war years had been supreme In the field of scientific and technical design, was weakened and inexperienced in production owing to th a small demand.

Regarding the question of mass production. Lord Weir expressed the opinion that aircraft had not r enched the stage of technical development of design which would Justify the largescale adoption of these methods. He also defined the standards and requirements of the Aeronautical Inspection Department, and said any relaxation of the existing standards which might impair the confidence of pilots In their machines would be regarded as retrograde. Reply to Criticism Viscount Swinton replied to criticisms of the rate of the Air Force expansion. He said there had been a shortage of skilled labour because the programme coincided with expansion of ordinary trade, but Hie number employed in the aircraft industry had increased from 30.000 f*i 1935 to over pn.ooo now. _ It had been said that men were, being discharged, but firms coul l not always employ the same number. Motion Defeated Sir Hugh ?eeiv's motion was defeated by 229 votes to 131. DEMAND FOR INQUIRY SMALL GOVERNMENT MAJORITY PRESSURE ON THE PREMIER United Press Assn.—Flee. Tel. Copyright) LONDON, May 13 Immed ately after Ihe closing of the .dr defence debate, moves occurred among all parties in the House of Commons designed to demand an immediate inquiry into the air defence plans. sa>s Ihe Australian Associated I*rc>s political correspondent- 'lhe Government s majority on the major was the smallest lor a considerable tim**. Ihe division lists revealing many Conservative abstentions. , Mr Chamberlain, who "ill handle Hie case himself in a further debate

on May 19, is being pressed from all sides to form a secret committee from all parties to share defence secrets and advise in the national interests. The Government emerged very badly from the debate. The morning press throughout Great Eritaln reflects the strong criticism and dissatisfaction with the position to date. The Daily Telegraph, in a leading article, says: “Past failures can be forgiven, but we cannot afford any more miscalculations to frustrate the fulJTlment of plans so essential to national security.” The Daily Mail says: “The Government’s statements, designed to allay anxiety, have only resulted in increased apprehension.”