DEFENCE MEASURES

Evening Post, Volume CXXVI, Issue 77, 28 September 1938, Page 8

DEFENCE MEASURES

SUPPLIES OF STEEJL

After a four months' visit to Australia, Sir James Steel-Maitland, chairman of Isteg Steel Products (N.Z.), Ltd., and the Isteg Steel Company of Australasia, Ltd., returned to Wellington by the Wanganella today. One of the reasons for his trip, he said, was to see the Australian Minister of Defence to place before him a scheme for the supply of his company's specially processed steel for defence purposes.

The British Government in its bombproof shelters, aerodromes, gun emplacements, and other defence works, the Germans in the fortification of the Siegfried Line,..;and the French in the Maginot Line, said Sir James, had all utilised this steel to the tune of several thousands of tons: One of his missions in Australia was to see the Minister of Defence to lay> before him a scheme whereby the same facilities would be at the disposal of the Australian Government.

The European situation was, of course, extremely serious. Things, had been moving so quickly from hour to hour that, after three days at sea, he would not care to express any opinion until he had received further information. However, whatever the outcome, peace or war, the Empire, and in fact the world, owed its thanks to Mr. Neville Chamberlain. Without his initiative, energy, and courage there was no doubt that we should be at war today. He had proved a worthy son of a great father, a man whom the City of Birmingham, which he represented in the House of Commons, must be extraordinarily proud to have as its member.