CHARGES DENIED

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 19601, 5 April 1938, Page 5

CHARGES DENIED

AIR FORCE OFFICERS

DRINKING TENDENCIES

LONDON, March 23

Allegations of excessive drinking by Royal Air Force officers were made—and rebutted—in the House of Commons to-day.

Mr. Garro-Jones (Labour, North Aberdeen) said during the debate on the air estimates that unless the drinking tendencies of Royal Air Force officers were watched carefully their nerve and ability would be affected.

There had been several unfavourable reports recently, the member stated. He recalled the court-martial which followed the striking of a superior officer Iby an Australian flight-lieutenant during a club evening.

"I do not suggest prohibition," Mr. Garro-Jones told the House, "but I do think that young officers should be discouraged from glorifying in a drink."

Mr. A. Hopkinson (Labour, Mossley) said that many youngsters who would make admirable officers were so constituted that occasionally they "kicked over the traces." There were numbers of young men in the Royal Air Force who went on "a good old blind" once or twice a year. Yet they were none the worse in health or nerve for it. " Every pilot occasionally got "cold feet." One could imagine a youngster feeling that way, and accepting the advice of'an older man, who suggested that he take a tot of whisky. The youngster would discover that it made him as bold as brass, and next time he had "cold feet" he would take another tot. Such a man was no good, and the sooner the Air Force was rid of him the better The Under-Secretary of Air, Lieu-tenant-Colonel Muirhead, denied that there was any substance for suggestions that the nerve and ability of Royal Air Force officers were being affected by promiscuous drinking. Medical officers kept a close watch over the health of Royal Air Force pilots, and any deterioration would be quickly noted.