MUDDLE AND WASTE IN REARMAMENT.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 4 May 1938, Page 8

MUDDLE AND WASTE IN REARMAMENT.

ALARM IN LONDON OVER AIR DEFENCES.

(By Telegraph-Press Assn.-Copyright) Received Tuesday,' 11.50 p.m. LONDON, May 3. The city editor of the Daily Mail says bankers and financial circles are alarmed at the lack of progress of air rearmament and are privately discussing action to impress their misgivings upon the Government, It is even suggested that a manifesto should be presented similar to the manifesto in 1931 which called on the Labour Government to retrench expenditure and reestablish credit. It is understood the bankers’ consideration of a public protest is due to the aircraft industry’s reluctance to speak out owing to the possibility of contravening - the Official Secrets Act although there are many allegations of muddle and waste. The News-Chronicle in the same way alleges inadequacy and muddle in anti-air preparations, adding that civilians are still virtually der fenceless. If. war were to break out the Government would be unable to give warning of the approach of air raiders as the necessary sirens have not been manufactured and air raid shelters for the public caught in the streets are non-existent. The suggested system of trenches in parks and open spaces is still incomplete on paper and the firefighting system is still not ready while volunteers are lacking. Although France and Germany are enforcing laws that new buildings shall comply with specifications providing proiection against fire and bomb splinters, the British Government for three years has watched the building of hundreds of blocks of flats and offices of which only a fraction contain air raid precautions.