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Aviation History
1918
1918 - 0706.PDF
the war. The terms of reference were very wide and included aeronautical research and education, in addition to other matters in which the Society is specially interested. In fact, the discussions of this Committee have had such a bearing on the activities of the Society and of the Society of British Aircraft Constructors that development along the lines of commercial transport have been deferred until after the Committee shall have made its report, an event which appears likely to take place very shortly. In every sphere of its manifold activities the Society has made most satisfactory progress during the year covered by the Report, and it only remains for us to congratulate the Council upon the eminently sound and satisfactory state in which the Society finds itself at the end of what has undoubtedly been its most successful year of existence, and upon its having thoroughly earned the Royal prefix which has now been conferred by the King. The Industrial Reconstruction Council,Capital to whose work we have referred in ""and ^heU1" the Past' has recentlyissued a manifesto Government.on the relations between Capital and Labour and the Government, in which it is set forth that co-operation between Capital and Labour is undoubtedly the most urgent industrial question of the day, and proceeds to the suggestion that the Government should adopt a uniform practice in all industrial and commercial matters of consulting joint bodies representative of both employers' and work-peoples' organisations. It is the view of the Council that no industrial or commercial question should interest the Government unless it also interests both Capital and Labour. The union between the two in the discussion of any matter which arose would materially strengthen the position of a trade against unnecessary restrictions, and on the other hand any JUNE 27, 191S. orders made by the Government on the joint advice of both parties would be more likely to find general acceptance. Illustrations might be multiplied almost indefinitely. There must be many hundreds of trade committees in negotiation with different Government Departments at the moment, and each case represents an ideal opportunity for practical co-operation between employers and employed. The effect of such a union on these committees would undoubtedly be to spread a different spirit throughout the indus- trial world. As the Council points out, the oppor- tunity for the suggested union of interests will pass with the cessation of war, because the relations between the Government and industry will become less intimate, and the Council therefore presses for an immediate acceptance of the principle: "That any commercial or industrial matter ought not to interest the Government unless it interests both capital and labour," and the consequent adoption of the policy that: " The Government will undertake to obtain and, wherever possible, accept advice on these matters from bodies equally representative of both labour and capital." Undoubtedly, there is a great deal to be said for the principles involved and the Council is doing excellent propaganda work in putting them forward at the present juncture, in order that the whole industrial and trading community may have an opportunity of discussing them. True, as there is to all great reforms, there will be opposition, but where, as in the present case, the soundness of argument is on their side, their adoption is only a question of time. We need not labour the point—the principles are there to explain themselves, and, more than to say that in the abstract they have our unqualified approval, further comment is unnecessary. In this connection the series of articles by Mr. Benn, which are now concluding in " FLIGHT," have special interest. Peerage for Sir W. Weir. IT was announced on June 18th, that the King has been graciously pleased to approve that the dignity of a Peerage of the United Kingdom should be conferred upon the Right HOD. Sir William Weir, Secretary of State for the Air Force. Expenditure on the Air Services. IN the course of his speech introducing the Vote of Credit in the House of Commons on June 18th, Mr. Bonar Law, Chancellor of the Exchequer, said : " There was in the Budget Estimate, as the Committee will understand, a very large increase in the Air Service. That is a growing Service—growing, I am glad to say, with every week—and for the same reason as applies to the merchant shipping the average expenditure over the first part of the year is not likely to be equal to the average of the full expendi- ture over the whole year. There is a reduction in the Air Force itself of about ^4,000,000. But that is entirely due to the fact that the transfer, though it has been made, has not been carried out entirely as regards accounts, and some sums have still to be paid by the Air Ministry to the War Office." The Parliamentary Air Committee. AT a meeting of the Parliamentary Air Committee, held at the House of Commons on June 18th under the presidency of Mr. Joynson-Hicks. the following resolutions were passed : 1. The Committee view with grave concern the arrangements for the construction and supply of high-power flying machines for next year's campaign. 2. They observe with great anxiety the heavy loss of life sustained in the training of pilots in this country, and the inadequate medical service. 3. They feel that the question of the Loch Doon aero- drome cannot be allowed to remain in its present inconclusive position, and that further investigation should be under- taken by the War Office Sub-Committee on National Expendi- ture, with a view of fixing responsibility for such an un- warrantable waste of public time, labour, and money. 4. They consider that the position of the Secretary of State for the Air Force without a seat in either Houses of Parliament, is highly unconstitutional, and request the Government to provide a date for the discussion of a resolution on the subject. (After the meeting it was ascertained that the Secretary of State, Sir William Weir, had been elevated to the Peerage.) Sir William Weir Explains. IT was not surprising that members of the House of Commons turned up in full force at a meeting at the House on June 20th, at which Sir William Weir made a full and confi- dential statement on the organisation, equipment, and work of the Air Service. Mr. Whitley presided, and Mr. Asquith was among those present. Honorary Adviser to the Air Ministry. MR. FREDERICK PALMER, C.I.E., M.I.C.E., partner in the firm of Messrs. Rendel, Palmer and Tritton, consulting engineers, has accepted the invitation of the Secretary of State for the Royal Air Force to act as honorary adviser to the Air Ministry in engineering questions associated with the Department of Works and Buildings. Saving of Irish Flax Seed. THE Minister of Munitions has issued an Order directing every grower of flax in Ireland during the season of 1918 to save the seed from one-eighth of his crop, and to comply with any regulations that may be prescribed in this behalf by the Department of Agriculture and Technical Instruction for Ireland. The Order does not apply to any grower having under flax in the year 1918 a total area not exceeding two statute roods, nor to flax of, any variety other than a fibre variety. No person shall, without a permit issued by the Depart- ment of Agriculture and Technical Instruction for Ireland, purchase, sell, or offer for sale from or on behalf of any grower of flax or any other person, any flax on foot, or undeseeded flax straw saved for seed in compliance with the provisions of the Order. 704
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