POWER IN AIR

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21782, 23 April 1934, Page 6

POWER IN AIR

BRITAIN'S ESTIMATES INCREASE IN EXPENDITURE NUMBER OF NEW UNITS [from' our own correspondent] J LONDON. March 13 In a memorandum accompanying the air estimates for the coming year, Lord Londonderry emphasises the weakness of Great Britain's position in air power. He maintains that in the absence of air disarmament the Government cannot continue to accept this position 9f inferiority. The gross total of air estimates for 1934-35 is £20,165,600 and the net total £17,561,000 —being increases of £527,000 and £135,000 respectively on the current year's figures. The net increase would be £IOO,OOO higher but for the fact that allowance has been made for/ the receipt of an additional payment of approximately this amount from India following on the report of the recent tribunal on Indian defence expenditure That tho rise is so small, in spite of provision for the formation of the new units detailed below, is due to the continuance of the most stringent economy throughout all votes and to the further postponement of all services tho completion of which is not a matter of urgent necessity. Notwithstanding the continued endeavours of the Government, a Disarmament Convention has not yet been signed, says the Air Minister. . The policy which this country has advocated in the sphere of air disarmament has been clearly stated in successive White Papers laid before Parliament. Attainment of Parity Pending consideration by the Permanent Disarmament Commission of yet more far-reaching measures, the Government has made its primary object the attainment of air parity in firstline strength between the principal Powers, in order that a race in air armaments may at all costs be avoided, [t is its earnest desire to achieve this and, if possible, by means of a reduction to the British level—or to any alternative figures upon which international agreement can be secured—of the strengths of those foreign air forces which at present so largely outnumber our own. Meantime, however, considerable programmes of air expansion have been approved in a number of foreign countries, and are already in several cases in process of actual execution. Air expenditure abroad is in fact showing a general upward trend, on a scale which in most cases far exceeds the small increase in the present estimates. / >

Pending the results of the Disarmament Conference, however, the number of new units to be formed in this country is being curtailed to a minimum, and will, in fact, do little to bridge the widening gap between the present strengths of the Koyal Air Force and of the air services'of other great Powers. The Government has by its successive postponements of the modest home defence scheme of 1923, now long overdue for completion, given abundant proof of the sincerity of its purpose to achieve air disarmament. It is under, the necessity of making it equally plain that it cannot, in the interests of our national and Imperial security, accept a position of continuing inferiority in the air. Home Defence Force Two new squadrons will be added to the Home Defence Force during 1934, which leave a balance of eight squadrons still to form before the 52 squadrons of the 1923 programme have been completed. Further, two squadrons at present incorporated in one of the experimental establishments will be reorganised and reconstituted on an effective basis. One new flying-boat squadron will also be formed with a view to its being stationed overseas at a later date. In addition, two flights—the equivalent of one squadron—will be added to the Fleet Air Arm.