INCREASED VOTE FOR ARMY

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLIII, Issue 20669, 6 March 1937, Page 17 (Supplement)

INCREASED VOTE FOR ARMY

WAR MINISTER’S OUTLINE OVER SIXTY MILLIONS PROVIDED EUROPE MOVES THROUGH DANGEROUS TIMES United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph —Copyright LONDON, March 4. The Army Estimates for 1937 total £63,120,000, representing an Increase of £7,239,000 on 1936. It is explained, however, in the accompanying memorandum presented by Mr A. Duff-Cooper (Secretary of State for War) that the estimates would have been £82,174,000, constituting an increase of £26,293,000 over 1936, but for the proposal to meet the army expenditure on the equipment of works and services, including huge munition supplies, to the extent of £19,054,000, by new issues from the consolidated fund, under the Loans Bill.

It is further explained that whereas in 1936, £551,800 was Included in the army estimates for the construction of new Government factories, there is provision for the expenditure in 1937 of £7,946,000, including the Royal ordnance factories estimate, and issues from the consolidated fund under the Defence Loans Bill. The increased expenditure in 1937 is mainly due to the expansion and acceleration of the programme, bringing the military programme up-to-date. There had been marked, ceaseless activity last year in every sphere of military policy, including the mechanisation and modernisation of the army, the improvement of coast and air defences at Home and abroad. Military Defence Needed Mr Duff-Cooper said,: "Our joint aim is to produce military forces which will be adequate to supply increased gamsons at Home and overseas, and the maintenance of order in the Empire.” The army establishment, excluding India, is 168,900, compared with 158,400 in 1936, and 186,400 in 1914. "Although recruiting has improved in recent weeks,” the Minister said, “it is below our hopes and needs.” He stated that already six munition factories were being erected in the distressed areas, and others will be necessary. Five Home cavalry regiments were being mechanised, and two were being experimentally mechanised in Egypt. The estimates for the Royal ordnance factories total £16,164,000, an increase of £10,178,000.

After dealing with recruiting problems, and the improvement'in barracks accommodation, Including provision of quarters for married soldiers being brought up to the standard obtaining for civilian life, Mr Duff-Cooper, in his memorandum, adds that research in spheres of explosives, ballistics and radiology, continues to yield important results, the publication of which has led to increased efficiency in the various arms of the service, and notably in the Royal Artillery, the Royal Engineers and the Royal Corps of Signals. Referring to the readiness with which the industry has co-operated in developing national resources for the supply of munitions, the memorandum says that not only has it been necessary to expand the existing and to create new Government factories, but to enlist the interest of many firms with no previous experience of the production of munitions, and army equipment. This has been done with the minimum of Interference with ordinary commercial business. Voluntary contributions to the cost of Imperial defence by the Colonial Governments amount to £153,000 in the present year. In the course of the debate, Mr Winston Churchill complained that effective discussion was baffled by the Government’s vagueness, lack of any quantitive statement, or the date at which any particular progress was reached. There was no assurance that programmes were being carried out punctually, and no means whereby the House could check the progress. They knew the Air Force programme was in arrear, and there was also the serious question of the large number of foreigners here belonging to Nazi or Fascist organisations. There were any number of facts of which the House had no Information, but on which the foreign staff was probably well informed. THROUGH DANGEROUS TIMES IS BRITAIN TOO OPTIMISTIC? United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph —Copy rlgb t LONDON, March 4. "I cannot resist the conviction that we are moving through times as dangerous as we ever experienced,” said Mr Winston Churchill, supporting the third reading of the Defence Loans Bill, in the House of Commons. He added that he was astounded at the wave of optimism, even complacency, which swept over Parliament and the public. He did not believe there was danger of war this spring or summer, but could Ministers say that the Air Force next year would be more nearly a match for the German Air Force than it was to-day? Rejection Moved By Labour Mr C. G. Ammon (Labour) moved the rejection of the Bill, which he said was a betrayal of the electors, because the Government obtained a majority a'; the last election on its peace pledges, whereas this was a war measure. Official Labour’s Attitude The Labour party has decided to support the defence estimates. The Parliamentary Party, after a meeting at the House of Commons, resolved to move amendments for reductions in each estimate, but abstain from voting when the main estimates were finally submitted to the House of Commons. This is construed as a tacit admission that the international situation justifies the increases.