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Aviation History
1924
1924 - 0181.PDF
MARCH 27, 1924 practical politics one had to combine the New with the Old. If some of the hon. members opposite adopted a purely New Testament attitude at the election very few of them would be returned. As to aeroplanes not being a protection against aeroplanes, the records of the War showed that from the point of view of enemy machines brought down, enormously the greatest number were brought down by fighting in the air. There was a great future for air mails by linking up steamship services and train services, so that mails could arrive on the Continent in the morning, be taken on by air until darkness, and then during the night by rail. He pleaded that the rigid airship might not be dismissed from consideration altogether, and that old types of such machines might not be relied upon for testing purposes. Airships could carry immense weights for immense distances, and could travel by night. They had great possibilities—greater for this country and Empire than for any others. On the question of research, he had always thought that the Air Ministry looked on aeronautics too much from the point of view of a military machine ; there was no otherside with which they were concerned. But the Air Ministry were in charge of the whole of aeronautics in this country, and the most important branch was research. Yet there was no one responsible for research on the Air Council. In air fighting it was of tremendous importance that one's machine should be technically better than the machine of one's opponent. It was no good sending 1,000 derelict machines against 1,000 better ones ; it was far better to send 600 good machines. There was no form of warfare in which technical superiority was so essential. They should concen trate with all the money they possibly could on the research and technical side of aviation, so as to become superior to any other country. Mr. Hardie said that all pacifist members would support the voting of money for civil aviation purposes. Too much money could not be spent on research. We could only remain a great nation by giving the most minute attention to every scientific detail which concerned our life. Sir j. Simon agreed that the Government had no alternative but to submit this increased estimate to the House, for we could not run obvious and palpable risks in the matter if we could possibly secure ourselves, in some degree, on reason able terms of insurance. The whole House, of course, accepted with complete confidence the assurance given by M. Poincare to the Prime Minister that the French aerial establishment was exclusively designed to defend France from attempted German revenge. But the French aerial preparation made it unhappily necessary for us to enlarge our preparations. At the Armistice this country was in possession of an admirable force, but we deliberately cut it down to the bone. He should like to know what was the view of the Air Minister as to the possibility of proposing some form of limitation, at any rate as regarded bombing machines. Sir H. Brittam urged the Air Ministry to do everything possible to further the development of aeroplane services to all parts of Europe. The service between London and Prague should be put into operation without unnecessary delay. Prague was the great key city of Central Europe, and both the Government and the people there were eagerly looking forward to the close connection of their capital with London. This country ought to take the same part in the forthcoming Aviation Exhibition at Prague as we did at Gothenburg. He hoped the Under-Secretary would follow the example of Sir S. Hoare last year, and visit different parts of Europe by air. Sir S. Hoare said there was a great field for the universities in the direction of research. If they could devote themselves to the solution of certain definite aeronautical problems they would be doing a great deal for the progress of science and aviation generally. He would ask hon. members opposite, who in some cases might be prejudiced against the military side of aviation, to do what several members of the Labour party did last year—make a visit to one of the educational establishments connected with the Air Ministry. They would there see really first-class education—for the mind, brain, and hand—being given to boys and young men who were entering the service. When he was Secretary for Air, he understood the air policy of the Government of that day to be that sufficient air power should be provided for the wants of the Navy and the Army and for overseas garrisons, and, most important of all, that the air power for home defence must be adequate for any contingency that might arise. Did the present Government accept those objectives as the objectives of their policy ? Mr. Leach said that the short service commission scheme, was not his, but in his opinion it was a good one, and ought to be extended. The Ministry were asking for more money on behalf of research, and the work that was being undertaken 18] through that expenditure was the kind that would be approved by the Committee. Research was being conducted in the field of aerodynamics and also of physics. They were going very carefully into engine research and navigation. They were exploring the control of aeroplanes at low speed, the increase in the lifting capacity and the improvement of the hull of flying boats. They were also paying due regard to the development of kite balloons. This was proceeding system atically and would continue to do so throughout this year and next year. The question of single-seater balloons had not been lost sight of, but at present it was difficult to say much about them. The Ministry were going into the question of the heating and ventilating of passenger cars, and were developing light aeroplanes in every way possible. They were seeking to develop the heavy oil engine, and were doing what was possible to promote devices for landing in fog, and new types of aircraft were being explored. He had been asked so often what was the Government's policy that perhaps it would be well to say what was not the Government's policy. The Government's policy was not reduction ; it was not dis armament ; it was not non-resistance. The Government was not stating next year's programme. He was not prepared to commit the Government to anything further than the present year's forthcoming programme, on account of the opportunities and international agreement that might arise. Should nothing arise in the course of this year to permit any deviation from that programme, presumably it would be developed on the lines laid down by the Government's predecessors. He could say little regarding lighter-than-air machines. It was under consideration by a Cabinet Committee, and the Government meant to explore the matter thoroughly in order to develop airships, if there was any possible future for them. As to an air-mail service to India, the Civil Advisory Board reporting on the possibility of such a service, recommended that research should be conducted to discover the right type of machine. Experimental machines had been ordered for that purpose. They were endeavouring to place orders for aeroplanes and engines during the coming year in such a way that there should be continuity of employment. With regard to a London to Prague service, he would like to see this started, and the Ministry would do what it was possible for them to do to facilitate the putting of this scheme on its feet. The difficulties lay in the disabilities that had been put upon Germany under the Versailles Treaty. The nearest way to Prague was over German territory, and the disabilities which had been put upon Germany in regard to her aeroplane industry were such as to make her unwilling to give this country facilities and rights which she did not enjoy. If those difficulties could be removed the projected London to Prague service would be brought a great deal nearer. The system of Dominion co-operation for the purpose of training pilots on common methods was not forgotten, and arrangements were being made with the Governments of Canada, Australia and New Zealand. Captain W. Benn expressed disappointment that no ground had been given for hope that the Government were taking definite steps towards some practical agreement of mutual aerial disarmament. Rear-Admiral Sueter urged that the Estimates did not provide enough money for home defence. The vote was agreed to. On March 24 the Report of Vote A for 35,000 of all ranks of the Air Force was agreed to without discussion. On the Report of Vote 1 for £2,941,000 for the pay and allowances of the Air Force for 1924-25, Lieut.-Comdr. Burney expressed the opinion that the number of non-combatant ranks in the Force was unneces sarily large, and that considerable economy could be effected by greater co-ordination of the Services. Lieut.-Col. L. Ward considered that over £38,000 was rather an excessive sum to spend on salaries for the Air Ministry meteorological stations. He asked whether it would not be possible to give reasonable encouragement to amateurs, and so save a considerable portion of this sum. Mr. Black called attention to what he termed the excessive salaries paid to chaplains in the Air Force. Mr. Leach, Under-Secretary for Air, said that the number of chaplains in the Air Force was as follows :—Church of England, 19 ; Roman Catholic, 4 ; Presbyterian, 3 ; Wesleyan, 3 ; United Board (which covered Baptists, Congregationalists, Primitive Methodists, and United Methodists), 3. The pay started at £355 and £565 a year for unmarried and married chaplains respectively, rising after 24 years' service to £800 and £1,040. The appointments were open to qualified appli cants, who were selected by a small board representative of all the denominations and presided over by the Air Minister.
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