BRITISH DEFENCE

Waikato Times, Volume 121, Issue 20260, 31 July 1937, Page 7

BRITISH DEFENCE

THE FLEET AIR ARM. END OF A CONTROVERSY. GOVERNMENT PLANS OUTLINED. (Omclal Wireless.) (Received July 31, 1 p.m.) RUGBY, July 30. The Government’s decision regarding the future of the fleet air arm was announced to the House of Commons by Mr. Neville Chamberlain. He said the proposals which the Government had under consideration referred to two classes of aircraft. The first class include ail air craft borne on ships of the Royal Navy known as the fleet air arm. They are under the operational control of the Admiralty, but as part of the Royal Air Force under the administrative control of the Air Ministry. The second class include shore base aircraft employed in cooperation with tlie naval forces. These are under the operational as well as the administrative control of the Air Ministry. The Government had decided in tlie case of the second class, which includes flying-boats, that there shall be no alteration in the present system. In the case of the fleet air arm tlie Government considers that these should be placed under the administrative control of the Admiralty. The change can only be carried out generally with the fullest of co-operation between the two services. Mr. Chamberlain added: "I shall be happy to give the assurance that this co-operation will be given without reserve. I* hope these decisions will be accepted in every quarter as the final and satisfactory settlement of a prolonged controversy, which it is in the public Interests to close." AIR RAID PRECAUTIONS. APPORTIONMENT OF COSTS. THE NEED FOR LEGISLATION. (Omclal Wireless.) RUGBY, July 29. Speaking in the (House of Commons the Home Secretary, Sir Samuel Hoare, referred to the difference which has arisen between local authorities and the central Government regarding the apportionment of the cost of air raid precautions. He said legislation would he required to place thi Government expenditure on air raid precautions on a proper statutory basis and to remove doubt as to the powers of local authorities. A bill for the purpose was being drafted, said Sir Samuel, and when it had reached a more advanced stage an opportunity would be afforded for representatives of local authorities to confer with the Government. lie hoped it might he possible to reach a satisfactory agreement as to tlie allocation of expenditure.

Whatever financial arrangements were ultimately decided upon would be applied retrospectively to a date which, it was contemplated, would be January i this year. He trusted that local authorities which had not begun the preparation of plans would not think it necessary to wait until ths financial arrangements had been placed on a statutory basis.