WEAKNESS IN AIR

Taranaki Daily News, 21 March 1935, Page 5

WEAKNESS IN AIR

BRITAIN TAKES ACTION INCREASE IN ESTIMATES "CANNOT REMAIN FIFTH” MACHINES NOT INFERIOR CIVIL FLYING PROGRESS British Official Wireless. Rec. 5.5 p.m. Rugby, March 19. The air estimates for 1935, totalling £23,851,000 gross, and a small supplementary estimate of £200,000 for the current year, were introduced in the House of Commons to-day by Sir Philip Sassoon, Under-Secretary for Air. The motion to go to committee was earned by 185 votes to 53. Sir Philip said that in the cause of peace the British Government had postponed for 10 years what had been declared as a minimum programme of air defence for the United Kingdom. The British weakness in the air was a danger to world peace as well .as to Britain herself, and the Air Force could ndt to be allowed to remain fifth among the air Powers in terms of nrst-hne strength. ~ At the same time, said Sir Philip, he refuted exaggerated accounts of the weakness of the British air force and pointed out that only France and Russia possessed a substantially greater first-line strength. The United States and Italy had only a small margin or superiority in numbers of aircraft, and they had actually fewer qualified pilous on the active list than the Royal Air Force. „ , ... The machines at the disposal of the Royal Air Force were inferior to none in design and performance, but technical progress was so rapid that a strenuous re-equipment programme was necessary, in addition to an increase in the total numbers. USE OF BRITISH CRAFT. Sir Philip said he hoped it would be possible in the future to shorten .the time taken to bring new types into production. The British aircraft industry was more than holding its own and the value of its exports in 1934 rose by 31 per cent, 29 foreign countries wing British aeroplanes and 33 using British aero engines. , i Meanwhile expansion of the ivoyai Air Force necessitated in the first place additional stations and aerodromes, and this accounted for the greater part of the inrreas* of approximately on the 3534 estimates. Turning to civil aviation Sir Philip paid a tribute to the work of Imperial Airways in 1934. The weight of some 6,009,090 letters sent by air from Britain last year was 122 tons, an increase of 43 per cent, on the total for 1933. Tn consequence of the recent 10-year agreement with Italy and the provisional understanding which had been leaehed with Tniperisl Airways planned soon to operate with small mailcarrying aircraft. ' Sir Philip said that a full service by large aircraft would be brought into operation when the company's fleet had been augmented to make up for the heavy demands caused by "the .recent duplication of the Empire services. The Air Ministry, Post Office and Imperial Airways were continuing io cooperate on the long-term policy aiming at quicker and more frequent services and the carriage of all first-class Empire mails by air without a .surcharge. The scheme would depend on the collaboration of the Dominions, India and the Colonies and the provision of £2,009,000 in fresh capital to extend Imperial Airways’ fleet. AIR MINISTRY PRIZE. Sir Philip stated that the Air Ministry was offering a £25,000 prize for the best medium-size commercial aeroplane produced by a British firm and was preppy tog to construct two experimental -martotoes with which, it might eventually try for the height and distance records. He expressed optimism regarding the progress of private flying in Britain. ano said there were more private pilots’ licences current in the United Kingdom Tn proportion to population than in the United States. Sir Ph flip said that "in all factors going to make a powerful find .efficient air force, apart from mere numbers -of machines, Britain -could still .cnallenge -comparison with any other nation. L -would be the height of folly to rush up a mere facade of nunioers. Behind Brifirst line machines there was a background of unrivalled organisation. ■Sir F. D. A-dand said that when the epiteph of Britain’s policy at the Disarmament Conference was written it ■would simply be the words “ioo late? There would he another chance during the naming weeks and me prayed it -would mot be lost. The Liberals could not. support these growing .expenditures. Mr. Winston Churchill said Britain was faced moi only -with the prospect of -a mew war ’but with the resumption of war which ended in liS-8. He still hoped it might foe averted, but the position was far worse than in August, 1914. From ha mg the least -vulnerable of all nations Hriteto had become the most vulnerable. Even now she was not taking measures in true proportion with her needs. “The Government must face the storm it will encounter tar-revery form of atnfair -attack,” Mr. Churchill .said. “It will be misrepresented, ealuminatefl and ■called a warmonger. Why not insist that the air force shall be adequate? Then, however much censure and abuse there is, it will have io act. ‘There will be the satisfactory result that the Government will know it has done its duty.” Sir Philip Sassoon in reply said fee programme was flexible and .might be .increased or decreased as emergency required. A motion to go in committee was caried by 185 votes to aS.