BRITAIN’S AERIAL FORCE

Greymouth Evening Star, 28 April 1938, Page 14

BRITAIN’S AERIAL FORCE

MISSION TO N. AMERICA. [BRITISH OFFICIAL WIRELESS.] RUGBY, April 26. Lord Winterton, replying in the House of Commons, to Mr F. Montague (Labour), who asked whether orders for military aeroplanes were to- he placed with firms in Canada and: the United States, said that the party of ■experts now visiting the United States and Canada was concerned solely with exploratory inquiries. The party would investigate whether types of aircraft which might be suitable for certain Royal Air Force purposes were available for early delivery. They would also examine the capacity and potentialities' for the production of aircraft in Canada. “The investigations to be conducted by this mission are. part of the review referred to by Mr. Chamberlain on March 14, and are supplementary to the arrangements for production in this country,” he added. “As soon as the Government decided that circumstances had made it necessary to accelerate and extend the programme for air expansion, a comprehensive view was made of the maximum production that would be possible in this country, with additional labour by all firms capable of producing types of aircraft suitable for use in the Royal Air Force. The accelerating and further expansion imply as to requirements. first an increased output of the appropriate types now in production; and second, the introduction at the earliest possible date of the latest improved types, which are on order.

“It is the intention- and determination of the Government that all British firms suitable for the production of aircraft to the requirements of the expanded programme shall be in a position to give the maximum output possible during the next two years. Bulk orders for production on a large scale have been placed, and further orders necessary- to secure a maximum accelerated output will be given without delay. The scale on which the factories have been planned and the order which has been given make it possible to secure greatly increased production if the additional labour is available.”

On the motion for the adjournment of the House of Commons after the Budget, .resolutions had been passed. Mr Marnier (Liberal) said, he wished to call attention to a dispatch to the United States of. the Air Ministry mission, about which he said there was a. great deal of misgiving, doubt, and mystification, but after he had been speaking for a. few minutes in tho House he was counted out.