AIR DEFENCE

Waikato Times, Volume 122, Issue 20508, 26 May 1938, Page 9

AIR DEFENCE

CENSURE MOTION DEFEATED IN THE COMMONS PRIME MINISTER’S OLAIMB MOST FORMIDABLE IN THE WORLD United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright (Received May 20, 11 a.m.) LONDON, May 25 In the House of Commons, the Prime Minister, Mr Neville Chamberlain, refused the Labour Party's demand for an Inquiry Into the air defences, on the ground that It would dissipate their energies. He said that the British Air Force to-day, If tested, would prove one of the most formidable fighting machines In the world. British bombers were the fastest In the world and the new types ordered were not likely to be surpassed anywhere. The shadow factories were second to none In the world. The Labour Party's motion asking for an Inquiry was treated as a motion of censure, and was defeated by a majority of 185, the voting being: Noes 329 Ayes 144

GOVERNMENT’S DEFENCE PRIME MINISTER’S SPEECH REASONS FOR REFUSAL (Official Wireless) (Received May 26, 12.30 p.m.) RUGBY, May 25 The postponed debate in the House of Commons on the Labour motion demanding a searching inquiry into the air defences was opened by Mr 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, it 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 a test to-morrow, 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 the inquiry chiefly because it would not help the purpose for 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 and inquiry would introduce confusion and delay.” Referring to I lie new Secretary for Air, Mr Chamberlain said lie thought the reputation which Sir Kingsley Wood had gained in the various offices he already had held would he some guarantee to the House that his methods would be thorough and that he would spare no pains to carry out the duties expected of him. Mr Chamberlain stoutly defended Viscount Swinton, in appreciation of whose services he spoke a»t length. Recent Developments Mr Chamberlain mentioned three developments of recent years, which had necessitated substantial alterations in the design and their cumulative effect on speed and manoeuvre, and even in strategy the all-metal monoplane, engines" of super-efficiency and the variable pitch airscrew. He went on to refer to the comparison Dr. Dalton had drawn between the present-day rate of production and that in the Great War, which were as different as chalk from cheese. The first squadron of Bulldogs formed in 1911) had a top speed of 120 miles on hour. The first squadron of Gauntlets formed in 1925 had a top speed of 230 miles, but now they had passed the 300-mile mark, and Spitfires were llie fastest fighter service squadron anywhere in the world. Speaking of bombers Mr Chamberlain said he could not disclose the range or bomb loads of the latest types, but those in the service were tiic fastest, bombers.in the world, and new types, which were now on order, showed such a marked advance that it was unlikely their performance would be surpassed by the bombers of any other country. Mr Chamberlain contended that there was no part in Britain’s air defence which had made a deeper impression on foreign visitors than the I shadow factories, and, answering the 1 advocates of mass-production, he [mentioned that while in the ordinary motor-car engine there were 1700 [parts, in a modern bomber there were 1311,000 parts to the engine alone and [upwards of 70,000 for the rest of the ! plane. Ministry of Supplies I Turning to the Ministry of Supply, j the Prime Minister commented on the ,number of rival proposals before the public, but declared that all of them suffered from Ihe disadvantage tl;c.t they would dislocate the* present machinery which was working well. He added: “My own view is that, although in actual war. a Ministry of Supply would he essential —and indeed wo have all the plans ready for such a ministry to he put into‘operation in such circumstances— 1 do not believe that a Ministry of Supply in peacetime is going to be as effective as the Ministry of Munitions was in the Great War. Unless you give it tlie samp powers as the Ministry of Munitions had and I doubt whether it would he justified to risk for such

powers in peacetime. By setting up a Ministry of Supply you would add nothing to the efficiency of the system. ‘‘For the reasons I have given, the Government is not prepared to set up a Ministry of Supply any more than it is prepared to grant an inquiry. “No one must Imagine from that that we are not straining every nerve to complete our programme at the earliest moment.” Dealing with the question of air parity, Mr Chamberlain reiterated his previously expressed view that firstline strength was only one of the factors to be taken into account. He very much deprecated taking a single, country always for comparison in judging air power. lie though such assessments should be made in a way which implied no challenge to any ' other country. Labour’s Contention In proposing the Labour motion Dr. Dalton claimed that recent political changes at the Air Ministry amounted to an admission by the Premier that all was not well there, and accordingly justified the demand for an inquiry, which in these circumstances he averred would strengthen the hands of the new Secretary Air. Dr. Dalton criticised the rate of production of aeroplanes, and compared it with the country’s capacity. There was a disequilibrium in production between engines and air frames and the shadow scheme had not yet- produced results. Dr. Dalton also generally supported the proposals for a Ministry of Supply. The state of the ground defences parof 3.Tin. guns and the organisation of a of 3.7 guns and the organisation of a balloon barrage scheme were also points in Dr. Dalton’s case. Liberal Leader’s Support Sir A. Sinclair (Liberal Leader spoke both in favour of a Ministry of Supply and of an inquiry. Mr Winston Churchill admitted the appointment of the new Air Minister had altered the situation, and questioned the continued usefulness of an inquiry, but said he would have preferred the establishment of a Ministry of Supply, and lie refused to be satisfied with tlie Premier’s encomium on existing machinery which he declared was cumbersome and complex.

CONTINUOUS AIR ATTACKB TRANSFER OF PERSONS APPOINTMENT OF COMMITTEE (Official wireless) RUGBY, May 2 4 The following Parliamentary committee has been appointed to examine the problem of the. transference of persons from areas which might he e\posed to continuous air attack, and recommend plan* for the purpose:— Sir John Anderson chairman Colonel G. F. Poland, Dr. Haden Guest, Sir Percy Harris.