MAKING BRITAIN SAFE

New Zealand Times, Volume LII, Issue 12075, 28 February 1925, Page 5

MAKING BRITAIN SAFE

EXPANSION OF FORCES LARGE CIVILIAN ELEMENT. ?v Telecrrapfi.—Press Assn.—Coovrieht ustralian and N.Z. Cable Association. (Received February 27, 8.10 p.m.) LONDON, February 26. In the House of Commons, Sir Samuel Hoare, the Air when introducing the Air Force Estimates, said the increased cost of £1,972,000 was mainly due to tlie scheme for the expansion of the Royal Air Force and to the exhaustion of war stack, necessitating the purchase of fhe new equipment. There never had been a national defence question supported with greater unanimity among the party leaders.

Sir (Samuel said that the regular squadrons, for the first time since the war, were being equipped with new types of machines. Fifteen out of 18 squadrons would be so equipped by the end of the year. Furthermore, nonregular units would be introduced! for the first time in military aviation. A further experiment wae the introduction of a large civilian element in the regular fighting units, to carry out less important non-flying duties. The principle of operational unity of command also had been introduced in air defence. By building up the Air Force on thbse lines, our air defence would be so strong that it would make the risk of attack not worth while. ONE TO THREE.

The Minister reminded the House that Britain’s inferiority at the present was one to three, compared with the greatest air force in Europe, namely, that of France, her old friend and Ally. It would be some years before the British force could equal France’s numerically. He hoped the House would appreciate the fact that he had held the balance between the necessity for an expansion of the force, and the necessity for a reduction of expenditure and taxation.

In emphasising the potentiality,- of air power for Empire defence, Sir Samuel Hoare said: “If our* air power in defence were made more mobile, we could save many men and much money.” Ho instanced the economy effected in the garrisoning of Iraq with tlie Air Force. _This principle must be applied to airship development, LARGE SUM FOB. RESEARCH. Regarding research, the Minister said that he had attempted to initiate an organisation in the Air Ministry to develop scientific research. He had consulted leading scientists m connection with this subject, and had put on the Estimates the largest sum for research that had been allocated in any year since fhe war. The-experiment of training a reserve of pilots in civil schools was developing, and the number of reserve pilots would be raised to 725 in the ensuing year. He hoped next summer that a number of light aeroplane clubs would be started. (EVIL AVIATION.

Referring to civil transport, the Minister emphasised the necessity for developing ; some long-distance route within the Empire for the purpose of idemans#rating the advantage of air transport. One of the immediate difficulties wliich must be overcome was the impossibility of flying over Germany in fhe present international situation. Regardng the development of the commercial stage of an airship line between England and, the 'dominions, operated by private enterprise, and not by the State, he said that risks must on no account be taken. The very founda-

tion of the problem wae the problem of safety. LABOUR OPPOSES POLICY.

Mr Philip Snowden, on behalf of the Labour Party, opposed the policy contained in the Estimates, which", he said, was based on the old, bad, vicious and futile methods of thinking that security depended on huge armaments. Captain Wedgwood Benn (Lib.) appealed to the Government to “go slow,” pending a definite step regarding disarmament. Mr W. Greaves-Lord (Con.) moved an amendment demanding that measures be taken to reduce accidents. Sir Samuel Hoare replied that the number of accidents in proportion to •the time flown was decreasing. He stated that an order bad been placed in America for a number of the Irvine type qf parachutes, which had saved lives in certain kinds of accidents. The amendment was negatived, and the motion was carried by 270 votes to 101.