LABOUR CRITICISM
AIR DEFENCE PROGRAMME INFERENCE FROM POLITICAL CHARGES PRODUCTION METHOD’S ATTACKED (British Official Wireless) (United Press Association) (By Electric Telegraph—Copyright) RUGBY, May 25. In proposing the Labour motion in the House of Commons, demanding a searching inquiry into the air defences, Dr Hugh Dalton claimed that the recent political changes at the Air Ministry amounted to an admission by the Prime Minister that all was not well there, and accordingly justified the demand for an inquiry, which, in these circumstances, he averred. would strengthen the hands of the new Secretary for Air (Sir Kingsley Wood). Dr Dalton criticised the rate of production of aeroplanes, and compared it with the country’s capacity. There was a lack of equilibrium in production between engines and air frames, and the shadow scheme had not yet produced results. Dr Dalton also generally supported the proposals for a Ministry of Supply. The state of ground defences, particularly the delays in the production of 3.7 in guns and the organisation of the balloon barrage scheme, were also points in Dr Dalton’s case. Sir Archibald Sinclair (Liberal) spoke both in favour of a Ministry of Supply and of an inquiry. Ministry of Supply Mr Winston Churchill (Conservative) admitted that the appointment of a new Air Minister had altered the situation, and questioned the continued usefulness of an inquiry, but he said he would have preferred the establishment of a Ministry of Supply. He said he refused to be satisfied with the Prime Minister’s encomium on the existing machinery, which, he declared, was cumbersome and complex. The motion was defeated by 329 votes to 144. AIR MINISTER’S PROMISE EXAMINATION OF CRITICISM LONDON, May 26.
(Received May 26, at 7.30 p.m.) In the House of Commons the Secretary for Air (Sir Kingsley Wood) promised to examine all criticism of the air defence system. He said that dominion orders for aircraft had been given the highest practical preference.
Permanent link to this item
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/ODT19380527.2.81
Bibliographic details
Otago Daily Times, Issue 23511, 27 May 1938, Page 9
Word Count
318LABOUR CRITICISM Otago Daily Times, Issue 23511, 27 May 1938, Page 9
Using This Item
Allied Press Ltd is the copyright owner for the Otago Daily Times. You can reproduce in-copyright material from this newspaper for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons New Zealand BY-NC-SA licence. This newspaper is not available for commercial use without the consent of Allied Press Ltd. For advice on reproduction of out-of-copyright material from this newspaper, please refer to the Copyright guide.
Log in