“BEST IN AVIATION”

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 55, Issue 270, 28 August 1935, Page 5

“BEST IN AVIATION”

PROGRESS IN BRITAIN.

REPLY TO CRITICISM. LONDON, August 16, In a, letter to “The Times” Sir Macpherson Robertson, of Melbourne, promoter of the Centenary air race, says that the British public are allowing themselves to- be misled by a* systematic campaign of the -depreciation of British aviation. The campaign, he says, dates from the Centenary race. Holland's achievement was magnificent, but why. lie asks, should the fact* that a British machine came first be overlooked? The critics seem to be bewitched by American aviation, says Sir Macpherson They ignore t-ne fact that it is costing the United States taxpayers millions a year. British- aviation, considering the* international complexities surrounding its expansion, is. the best*, safest and most economical in the world. It maintains the longest routes and the best machines. Its administrative policy is sound. Civilisation should base its expansion not on wild attempts to cut‘scheduled times but on regularity, reliability amicomfort. Refusal to recoguise the facts of Britain’s achievement must damage in the eyes of the world the products, enterprise and personnel of her aircraft industries.

Sir Macpherson adds: “Let ht> view contemporary, aviation in the right perspective and cease championing the lesser achievements of other countries.”