BEST IN WORLD.

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume LX, Issue 10827, 26 March 1932, Page 3

BEST IN WORLD.

BRITISH AIR FORCE HAS NO SUPERIOR. London, March 10. The British Air Force has no*superior in the world, said the Air Minister (Sir Philip Sassoon), in the House of Commons to-day, hut its standard could not be maintained if the vote of it were permanently reduced.

The estimates he was submitting showed a reduction as a contribution to the urgent requirements of. the financial situation and the balancing of the next Budget, bi)t more money would be required in future years. The total of the estimates for the forthcoming year is £17,400,000, a reduction of £700,000, compared with the year just ending.

. During the debate. Sir Phillip Sassoon said the experience gained in making winning machines and engines for Schneider trophy contests had been of real value in designing new equipment for the air force. The result was that though reckoned by size alone the air force took only fifth place among the air forces of the world they had the satisfaction of knowing that no other air force was better equipped, while nowhere was the standard of training and efficiency so high. Proposals were on foot for bringing into operation another 12,000 miles of Empire routes and when that had been done the Empire would possess over 37,000 miles of organised air routes.

'Three Southampton flying boats were leaving Singapore on March 15, on a training flight to Port Darwin, where they would be met by six R.A.F.C. machines. Mr M. Knatchbnll (Cons., Ashford) urged the immediate extension of the service to Australia to forestall the Dutch. The estimates were carried. :