BRITAIN LAUNCHES NEW AIR PROGRAMME.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 111, 13 May 1938, Page 7

BRITAIN LAUNCHES NEW AIR PROGRAMME.

COMMONS INFORMED.

Entirely Overshadows Plan Of Three Years Ago.

"ASTRONOMICAL" COSTS. British Official Wireless. (Received 12.30 p.m.) RUGBY, May 12. The House of Commons was crowded for the debate on the Air Ministry vote. Earl Winterton, who was recently appointed deputy in the House of Commons to Viscount Swinton, the Air Minister, intervening in the debate at an early stage, 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 in itself was absolutely unprecedented in peace time."

As on indication of the scale of the new programme, the Minister mentioned that in the personnel an expansion of no less than 40,000 officers and men would bo required, bringing the strength of the Royal Air Force to 110,000.

Lord Winterton gave his assurance that the idea that the execution of the

programme was greatly in arrears was) absolutely mistaken. The scheme under which the first line air strength of 1750 was to be reached by next April was all up to schedule. That strength would be certainly reached by the ua;e stipulated, and, he believed, considerably i earlier. The position regarding reserves was also satisfactory. Rapidly Extend Output. Moreover, the scale on which factories had been planned and orders placed would make it possible, if the necessary labour whs available, rapidly to extend the output to meet the immense demands of the new programme. The Ministry had informed the Government that, given necessary equip- i inent, it was estimated tliat the output of aeroplanes and engines could be increased by well over ~>o per cent in the next 12 mouths, and during the succeeding year could be increased to RgureH three times the present size. He declared emphatically that the Royal- Air Force as a whole was not behind other air forces in up-to-dateness and newness. Its machines of existing types were satisfactory, and a few types were even better. The production of engines was increasing rapidly, and in Jhis connection the "shadow scheme" had fully justified itself. There was now a vast field of actual and potential production. Y Purchases from America and Canada. Dealing with purchases from the United States, Lord Winterton said it must be remembered that production in the United States was email compared with that in the United Kingdom. It was only certain types—mostly for training—that might be bought.

More important in connection with the experts' mission recently sent across the Atlantic was the possibility of building up a large war potential in Canada. He said that there was no real hope of aircraft being turned out by mass production in the sense that some people used the phrase, nor did thoee 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 now was unjustified. The industry was in a much better position to-day than three years ago. To undertake the vast expansion it was required that the numbers employed should be increased from 30,000 to over 90,000.

Lord Winterton, referring to the programmes of foreign Powers, gave his assurance that the British programme had been framed in the light of the best estimate as to the large scale of forces which could be brought against Britain in war. It was designed as a formidable deterrent against aggression, and an effective defence in the event of attack.

The defence of Britain must be regarded as a whole. They were carrying out rearmament on a vast scale, with extensions, refitments, rebuilding and re-equipment in all three Services, at a cost approaching astronomical proportions.