AIR REARMAMENT

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23121, 20 August 1938, Page 17

AIR REARMAMENT

SUBSTANTIAL PROGRESS ORGANISATION LACKING TECHNICIAN'S OBSERVATIONS NO WAR PANIC IN ENGLAND [by TELEGRAPH —owx correspondent] WELLINGTON, Friday The opinion that very substantial progress had been made with air rearmament in Britain, but that organisation was still lagging behind the programme, was expressed by Mr. E. R. Cooper, who, with his wife and son, arrived by the Ruahine to-day. Mr. Cooper has been attached as a technician to the Royal aircraft establishment at Farnborough, England, where he has been engaged on aerodynamic and aeronautic research work. Ho explained that the Farnborough research establishment was the only one of its kind in England, and employed approximately 3000 workers, of whom 300 to 400 were highly-qualified technicians.

Mr. Cooper said that in view of the rapid developments now proceeding in New Zealand with regard to aircraft expansion, he had come to the Dominion with the object of seeking engagement with the New Zealand Government. If he was unsuccessful in this, however, he proposed to go to Melbourne, where an aeronautical laboratory was to be established in connection with the lioyal Australian Air Force. Air Defence of London Top-speed Royal Air Force fighting aeroplanes were now reaching a maximum speed of 350 miles per hour, said Mr. Cooper, while the speed of the best bombers was in the vicinity of 230 miles per hour. Ho had been doing considerable work in connection with the London balloon barrage scheme, which would very soon be completed.

When it was completed it would provide a very effective system of air defence for the metropolis. It consisted of raising a series of balloons, with anti-aircraft guns firing above the balloons at a height of 3000 ft. and over and with fighting aircraft to range the skies above the guns. The balloons were already constructed, but a number of details of the scheme had still to be completed. An effort was being made to man the scheme with territorial volunteers, but so far recruiting appeared to be slow and the response disiuipointing. Lt was a common sight in London to see anti-aircraft guns and recruiting vans being used in an effort to attract volunteers. There was no doubt that very good progress was being made with the construction of aircraft and other equipment, but expansion had been so rapid and the scheme so vast that organisation appeared still to be lagging rather behind. Increase in Employment The expansion of the programme in armaments had undoubtedly led to a great increase in employment, and a much greater circulation of money. He did not think the armament industry was encroaching to any serious extent upon the functions of normal industry, but, on the contrary, that it provided extra avenues of employment and for industrial enterprise. Nevertheless, the man in the street entertained feelings of doubt about how long the expansion would last and what would be the effects when it ceased. "People in England expect war, although tliev don't know where it is coining from," said Mr. Cooper. "Nevertheless, there was no feeling of panic. The people were looking chiefly to the United States for assistance in the event of hostilities, and in this connection a recent broadcast speech of the American Secretary of State, Mr. Cordcll Hull, had attracted widespread interest and a most favourable reaction, lt was generally believed that war was most likely to be caused as the outcome of national alliances and their resulting entanglements." Mr. Cooper, who has the master of science degree, was awarded the 1851 Exhibition science research scholarship at Canterbury College in 1933.