AIR DEFENCES

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 80, Issue 240, 11 October 1938, Page 7

AIR DEFENCES

BRITISH PREPAREDNESS SIB KINGSLEY WOOD’S REMEW. The Air Minister, Sir Kingsley Wood, opening the Cambridge municipal aerodrome, said that Europe had just been very near to a great disaster. Many had realised for the first time by the preparations that had been made, including arrangements for evacuatinon and the distribution of gasmasks, what modern war might mean.

In the recent avoidance of war hope had emerged that the nations would now work together unceasingly for the elimination of the causes of hostility and for the promotion of cooperation and goodwill. That was Mr. Chamberlain’s greatest desire and one to which he had and would devote himself unceasingly. But, until that objective was obtained, Britain must proceed without pause or halt with its defences. Old Security Gone. “Our old security as an island nation has gone,” said the Minister, “and we are bridged to the Continent by machines capable of destruction and death, but much remains to do with our defences. “There has been no sign in the recent crisis of decadence in the British race. People are just as ready as ever to respond to the call for service. Nothing was more striking than the prompt and eager response of the personnel of the Royal Force, the auxiliary air force and the observer corps.

“All showed the highest devotion to duty. The quality of the personnel is unsurpassed in courage and determination. It was my duty to see they were properly equipped for their responsible and arduous tasks.” Productive capacity was being increased in many directions, said Sir Kingsley Wood. Extension to buildings and plant were being carried out throughout the aircraft industry, and he was in a position to announce that the Air Ministry had approved the building of a new factory in Gloucester to be managed by the Gloster Aircraft Company and costing more than £1,000,000. Extensions had also been approved for the Fairey factory j at Stockport at a cost of more than £500,000.

There had been an excellent response, too, in recruiting apprentices and boys. In addition, more than 11,000 men entered the service as recruits. The standard of the new entrants was excellent. On the reserve side good results had also been attained. The Royal Air Force volunteer reserve had already more than 2000 pilots under training. Lists Closed. More than 30,000 applications had been received for the Civil Air Guard, and the scheme had proved such a success that, following discussions with the Civil Air Guard Commissioner, it had been decided that club lists for the Air Guard would be closed temporarily.

This would allow of the absorption of the numbers from whom applications had already been received at the clubs, and those would, it was thought, in most cases occupy all the facilities now available or likely to be available in the near future. The lists would be reopened at individual clubs as soon as it was possible to absorb further numbers. Announcements issued by the Air Ministry and the Commissioners of the Civil Air Guard give effect to Sir Kingsley Wood’s statement. Applications are being received at the rate of more than 1000 a week.

It was been decided to release officers and men of the fighter and balloon barrage squadrons of the Auxiliary Air Force called up for service on September 26, and requisite instructions are being issued.

CONTRACTORS’ CHARGES AIR-RAID PRECAUTION MATERIALS. HOME OFFICE CALLS CONFERENCE. Received Oct. 10. 5.5 p.m. LONDON, Oct. 10. The Home Office has called a conference of contractors to consider a 500 per cent. Increase in the cost of air-raid precaution materials at the peak of the crisis, but some authorities already have paid their bills, which have saddled the municipalities with fabulous sums.