AIR RAID DEFENCE

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLV, Issue 21186, 5 November 1938, Page 17

AIR RAID DEFENCE

LABOUR CRITICISM IN ENGLAND Disturbing Admissions m Debate Plans to Make Up Leeway Cost During War Scare Brntsh Official Wireless RUGBY, November 3. In opening the debate in the House of Commons on civil defence, Mr Herbert Morrison said that the Labour Party was genuinely and seriously worried about the state of air raid precautions. He assured Sir John Anderson of the support of all parties and local authorities in the execution of his task in connection with air raid precautions, but he expressed doubts as to whether Sir John Anderson would have the necessary authority and executive powers. Mr Morrison admitted that since Sil Samuel Hoare had been in the Home Office considerable progress had been made, but the general burden of his criticism was that there had been serious and avoidable delays which had discouraged both the local authorities and individual volunteers. He said that there were deficiencies in the supply of A.R.P. equipment, including fire-fighting appliances and medical supplies, and he also criticised the inadequacy of Government action in the matter of evacuation of parts of the civil population. He urged the provision of adequate shelter for everyone despite the admittedly high cost. Government Defended Sir Samuel Hoare (Home Secretary) claimed that the system of air raid precautions already in existence in Great Britain compared ' favourably with those in any other country except Germany, which had begun to prepare very much earlier. He outlined notable achievements in respect of the recruitment of volunteers, the distribution of gas masks, and the provision of trenches and announced that it was the Government’s intention to consider a much more comprehensive shelter policy. Dealing with personnel. Sir Samuel Hoare said one of Sir John Anderson’s principal duties would be to deal with the question of a national register and the national utilisation of national service. He also claimed that the evacuation plans of the Government were far in advance of anything which had been worked out in any other country. Charges of profiteering were being investigated. Sir John Anderson, in his first speech as Minister of Civilian Defence, expressed his opinion that an evacuation policy must be worked out without delay. Shelters must be more numerous and there must be regional planning. He regarded the effective utilisation of man-power for the purposes of national defence as the biggest problem, and concluded that he was not and never would be a party politician. War Minister Replies Dr. Dalton (Labo.ir) wound up (he debate for the Opposition and Mr Hore Belisha (Minister for War) replied for the Government. Mr Hore Belisha said, henceforward the country must pay the same attention to its anti-aircraft defences as it has always paid to the maintenance of the fleet. He dealt *n detail with the recent development of the anti-aircraft defence force both in respect of personnel and equipment. Referring in particular to the 3.7 inch gun, over which there had been much criticism, Mr Hore Belisha said the whole of the enlarged anti-aircraft defence force of five divisions, would be substantially provided for by the middle of 1939, and considering that the design of the gun had only been finally approved in the middle of 1937, this would constitute record production, comparing favourably with anything previously done by any country, even in war? The disadvantage of producing a new gui was that it induced the impression that existing equipment was obsolete, but actually the 3-inch gun was an accurate weapon modernised, having the same fire control and equipment as the new gun. He mentioned that the bulk of the activity in Spain had been at heights well within the range of the 3-inch gun. Debate in House of Lords In the House of Lords the debate on national defences ended without division, Lord Strabolgi withdrawing his motion for an independent inquiry which having been drafted a month ago was, he agreed, too widely drafted in the light of what was now known. Replying to criticisms that Government action fell short of requirements in regard to the speeding up of rearmament and the organising of national service, Lord Stanhope said, as to the former, that it was useless to set up a Ministry of Supply unless it were given compulsory powers. The Government felt that the way which it was doing it by full co-operation with employers and workmen who were helping the Government in every possible way, was better than establishing a Ministry with compulsory powers. In regard to registration, Lord Stanhope said the Government saw no objection to having a compulsory national register. Cost of Recent Precautions The cost of the -esent mobilisation of the Fleet has been provisionally assessed at £2,000,000. It was estimated that the Josts of the air raid precautions to local authorities would be about £3,300,000, of which £2,000,000 would fall on the national exchequer. The Chancellor of the Exchequer (Sir John Simon) stated in the House of Commons th a: the estimated cost to the Exchequei of the special measures directly attributable to the recent international crisis, including Fleet mobilisation and. air raid precautions would be in the neighbourhood of £5,500,000 in addition to £10,000,000 credit to Czechoslovakia.