From the Rolls-Royce experimental archive: a quarter of a million communications from Rolls-Royce, 1906 to 1960's. Documents from the Sir Henry Royce Memorial Foundation (SHRMF).
Satirical commentary on the perceived bureaucracy of the Aeronautical Inspection Directorate (A.I.D.).
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 142\1\ scan0075 | |
| Date | 21th January 1938 guessed | |
| Because of all this fuss in the newspapers and all this working day and night, you, in your simplicity, thought the Air Ministry wanted aeroplanes, and wanted them quickly. Which just shows how out of touch the Man in the Street is with the intricacies of government. As a matter of fact, you can't really blame our foreman. Upon investigation we have been astonished to find that a large number of people criticise the workings of the A.I.D. because it "hinders production". This, we suggest, is completely unfair. One might as well criticise one's opponents in a Rugby Match because they hindered one from scoring tries. Hindrance in both cases, is what they are for. The Ministry has taken endless trouble in the selection and training of the personnel of the Department, and in evolving its methods. Eminent Chancery solicitors have been employed to draw up regulations which shall be as incomprehensible as human skill can make them. Expert crossword puzzle men have been paid thousands to conceal the clues to their solution. Some of the most famous Plumber's Mates in the country have been called in to lecture on Recent Developments in Forgetting to Bring One's Tools, and bricklayers with international reputations have been asked to reveal secret methods of bringing a complete team of workmen to a standstill in ten minutes. After all this trouble and expense, it is sad to see so little appreciation of the A.I.D. in the industry. (2) | ||