AIRCRAFT PRODUCTION

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23704, 11 January 1939, Page 9

AIRCRAFT PRODUCTION

POSSIBILITY IN AUSTRALIA PERSONNEL OF MISSION RUGBY, Jan. 9. The members of the United Kingdom’s mission to inquire into the possibility, of the production of aircraft in Australia will be Sir Hardman Lever (who headed the recent mission to Canada), Colonel Sir Donald Banks (Permanent Undersecretary for Air), and Air Marshal Sir Arthur Longmore (lately commandant at the Imperial Defence College). The members will be assisted by experts.

AMERICAN LEADERSHIP SERIOUSLY CHALLENGED WASHINGTON, Jan. 10. (Received Jan. 10, at 11.55 p.m.) A warning that American leadership in the development of commercial as well as military aircraft is seriously challenged is contained in the annual report of the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics. The signatories include Orville Wright and Colonel Lindbergh, who state that the United States will lose her position unless research is greatly intensified. It is pointed out that Germany has nine research laboratories, each of which is equivalent to America’s one. Mass production is approved, but it is stated that mere numbers are not enough. President Roosevelt, who is expected to present his defence message on Thursday, immediately sent the report to the Congress. He is endeavouring to remove any doubts about the necessity of the 500,000,000 dollar defence programme by recalling Ambassadors from their holidays to giye legislators a frank picture of the European situation. Armed with secret data on the German Air Force contained in the Lindbergh report, the*' will address Congressional committees behind locked doors.