BRITISH AIRCRAFT

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23002, 1 April 1938, Page 9

BRITISH AIRCRAFT

CASES OF SABOTAGE IMMUNITY A PROBLEM British "Wireless RUGBY, March 30 • Referring to recent cases of aircraft sabotage, Earl Winterton, who joined the Cabinet earlier this month to deal with all air questions on the service side, stated in the House of Commons to-day that it was a matter of the utmost difficulty to guarantee immunity against damage which could be inflicted in a few seconds by an ill-disposed person apparently engaged in his normal work.

The main safeguard must always be the vigilance and loyalty of the workmen and staff of the lirms concerned. "However," said Lord Winterton, "the present isolated cases of damage, deplorable as they are, must not bo allowed to obscure the fact that the spirit of the aircraft industry as a whole is excellent, and that material damage of this kind over a period of years has been remarkably small.

"I should add that there is no evidence to suggest that the malicious damage is to be attributed to any agent of a foreign Power."

FURTHER INSTANCES POLICE INVESTIGATING 'LONDON. March 30 Karl Winterton, in a written reply to several members of the House of Commons, admitted that there had been further cases of sabotage of aircrait at Southampton and Baginton, near Coventry. The police were investigating the matter.

COMPOSITE MACHINES TRIALS FINISH SHORTLY British Wireless RUGBY, March 30 The Mercury and its launching aeroplane Maia, which together • form the Mayo composite aircraft, are likely to finish their trials about tho middle of April. Flights to test fuel consumption and navigational installation, probably over Empire routes, will then be proceeded with, as a preliminary to the first British transatlantic crossing this year. This is to be undertaken by the Mercury early in June, when Port Botwood, Newfoundland, will be clear of ice.