1939-03-10 — Page 11

Nearly Hundred Millions

For New Planes And Balloons

SIR KINGSLEY WOOD SURVEYS AIR POSITION

London, To-day.

•HONG KONG

AS RESERVE AIR FORCE CENTRE

Hong Kong is specially included in proposals of the Air Ministry for the establishment overseas. of reserve flying training, organisa-

Introducing the Air Estimates totalling £205,000,000 in the House of Commons yesterday, the Secre- tary for Air, Sir Kingsley Wood, graphically tion. illustrated the growth of the R.A.F.

He said the present figure was twelve times greater

than any year from 1929 to 1934.

This year's increase of £74,000,000 in the Air Esti- mates was equal to the total defence estimates in 1913.

Biggest single item was £93,000,-. A powerful striking force 000 for aircraft and balloons.

Thirty-five R.A.F. companies of the Auxiliary Territorial Service] for women were being formed.

It was expected that the Air Force programme would necessitate, a fur- ther 20,000 personnel this year,

It was proposed to increase total personnel to 102,000.

.was

not only a strong deterrent to at-

tack but a vital component in any sound system of air defence.

DEFENSIVE STRENGTH Developments. in recent years had reduced the supremacy of the offen- sive and had added to the strength of the defensive in the air. but that did not mean that we could rely for defence on. fighter aircraft ground defences alone.

and

Greater progress than was anti- cipated is being made in deliveries of Air Force engines, construction All 11 factories established un- of stations and factories and ex-der the shadow scheme were pansion of the balloon barrage operating. scheme.

now

The primary, aim will be to en- -able local residents to qualify for

the volunteer reserve.

At present, ex-R.A.F. pilots. take refresher courses at Govern. ment expense at Kai Tack, and the Volunteer Air Arm trains with- the Far East Flying Training School.

Sir Kingaley Wood presumably. envisages large extensión of the existing facilities."

ready announced to increase over seas strength to approximately 500 first line aircraft.

PROFITEERING CHARGES IN COMMONS

London, To-day.

In the House of Commons neither Mr. Hugh Dalton nor Sir Hugh Seely, who followed Sir Kingsley Wood, objected to his estimates on behalf of the Labour and Liberal parties, though they criticised his statement in detail,

They both expressed concern whether the rate of expansion of British air power was yet sufficient in the face of Germany's rate expansion."

of

their money, and spoke of profiter- Mr. Dalton also doubted if tax- payers were getting full value for

ing.

In this connexion the Secretary To meet requirements for pro- for Air had announced in the course. tection of overseas territories and of his speech that in view of the trade, the formation of certain ad- results of the special investigation, ditional squadrons had now been it appeared desirable to modify in approved.

OVERSEAS SUPPLIES

some respects the terms of the Already aircraft

aircraft présent, agreements with were arriving from the United States, and deliv-dustry had invited, the well-known manufacturers, and the aircraft-in- ery from Canada would commence Sir Kingsley Wood announced

next year, while a British mission RECRUITS POUR IN

new development in the organisa-was now in Australla studying the The appeal in June for 31,600 tion of aircraft production.

possibilities. pilots, observers, airmen and boys Three or four firms will be form-aircraft industry at home had in- Labo ir forces engaged in the during the present financial year.ed into a group and orders placed had been excellent, and the figure for one type of aircraft to be dis-creased by forty per cent. in the was passed last week. (Cheers),tributed among the group..

last six months. Quality of the recruits was excel- lent.

f

2

FEWER DESIGNS This, he said, "facilitated large- The Estimates included provision scale planning and ordering, and for reserve flying and auxiliary would also reduce dislocation that forces.

might result in war if one of the Thirty-three reserve centres. had manufacturers was unable to con- been formed in urban areas, and tinue production. they hoped to organise 20 more in the coming, year.

It would also reduce the number of designs.

1

Production was proceeding. on

a rapidly increasing basis. Britain was now spending £250,000 a day and that figure would rise still

HONG KONG RESERVE It had been decided to extend the reserve, flying training organisa tion overseas, and they hoped it would be possible, to form sections, further. for example, in Malaya, Hong Kong→ HUGE COST NECESSARY and East Africa, to enable local Sir Kingsley recalled that -in residents to qualify for the volun- November he estimated that by next teer reserve.

year, aircraft output would show Referring to balloon defence, Sira 400 per cent. increase over May, Kingsley said the barrage for Lon-1938,

don could now be put into opera- He was now hopeful that that fion if the occasion demanded.

increase would be achieved by the end of the present year.

He hoped all other barrages all over the country would be com- pleted by the end of the year.

The Civil Air Guard had over 1,400-members- possessing a flying license, and 9,800 were undergoing flying training.

The standard of airmanship was higher than ever before.

STRATEGIC. ELEMENTS

The Minister emphasised in con- clusion that the Estimates were unprecedented, but necessary, as he believed it was one of the best means of preventing a war, and he looked forward to the time when more reasonable and sano-courses would prevail throughout the world. Reuter.

By April 1, the number of first-

OVERSEAS SQUADRONS line aircraft at home would reach

As regards the programme an- 1,750.

nounced in May last for a metropo- There were now 30 squadrons Iltan air force of approximately established overseas and seven more 2,870 aircraft by next March, good were to be formed in accordance progress had been made in develop- with the programme to increase ing the necessary productive capa- overseas strength to 500 firstline city and in recruiting personnel, aircraft.

and there was every prospect of its being completed within the time promised.

Referring to new aircraft, Sir Kingsley said the British bomber and fighting forces were the best in the world.

*We had not abandoned our tradi- tional reliance on the value of the counter-offensive as an essential element of strategy

Four more squadrons had been established oversens during the year, making a total establishment of thirty squadrons. Seven addition- al squadrons would be formed in' accordance with the programme ́al-l

accountant, Sir William McLintock, to undertake an immediate review of the operation of the agreement. British Wireless.

A General Meeting of the Hong Kong Aquarium Society will be held Sir Kingsley Wood paid a tribute on Tuesday, 14th March at 7:30 p.m. development unit of the R.A.F. last Bank of East Asla building, 3rd to the achievement in creating the The meeting will take place at the November and in increasing new floor, Room 310, by courtesy of: world records.-British Wireless.

Miss O'Keefe,

THE SPIRIT OF TRADITION

Pleyel Asceò---a parede of thorough- brods, men, wämnen, and horses.

An institutioni which is on essentialTM part of the English life and character.

MARTELL

ESTABLISHED IN 1715

ognac

Martell Cognac goes back over, two centuries... The brandy for all occasions and all purposes. a beverage of character and a restorative of great · value — a world-wide favourite.*

MARTELL

Sole Agents: GANDE, PRICE & CO., LTD.,

Tel No. 20136- Obtainable at all Clubs, Hotels,