DEFENCE DEBATE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 128, 1 June 1936, Page 7

DEFENCE DEBATE.

Proposal for Extra Minister Advanced. SIR THOMAS INSKIP'S REPLY. ; British Official Wireless. RUGBY, May 31. • The Minister for the Co-ordination of Defence, Sir Thomas Inskip, replied to a debate raised on the adjournment in the House of Commons by Sir Edward Grigg, who, supported by Sir Robert Horne, contended that the responsibility , of the Government in relation to the ' manufacture and supply of defence requirements was so heavy and urgent as to warrant the appointment of ail additional Minister. Sir Thomas argued that a chango in that direction would not affect the rate of progress in meeting the problems or the question of progress already made. -> He gave as examples the arrangements concluded for the manufacture of air I frames and air engines for the Air Ministry. He said that an agreement had been - reached with the Austin Company and with Messrs. Rootes, two of the largest motor undertakings in the country, to i erect factories for the production of air frames and designs and lay-out, including plans for railway sidings, the diversion of roads, and for aerodromes, which were already complete, and specifications for tenders were about to be issued. As to engines, seven firms of acknow--1 ledged eminence in the manufacture of internal combustion engines—Austin, Rootes, Daimler, Standard, Singer, Rover and Wolseley —were co-operating and had put forward a detailed scheme for securing the necessary output with an absolute minimum of delay.