Ashburton Guardian Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit SATURDAY, APRIL 17, 1943. AIR TRANSPORT.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 63, Issue 160, 17 April 1943, Page 2

Ashburton Guardian Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit SATURDAY, APRIL 17, 1943. AIR TRANSPORT.

The subject of air transport raised by Baron Rothermere in the House of Lords is one of vital importance to the Empire." Britain’s neglect in thimatter during the pre-war years has become more marked in the course of the struggle and, unless corrected, will place the Empire .under a severe handicap after the war. Present shortcomings are excused by the need to give priority to combat planes. Yet in the case of the United States, Russia, and Germany, the war has fostered amazing developments in air transport. transport planes have proved of the greatest assistance in working out their military plans, while the lack of them in sufficient numbers imposes limits on British generalship. If the war offers no sound excuse for neglecting air transport, the far-flung British Empire, on the other hand, calls aloud for the services that air transport can provide. The Empire s preservation and future progress depend largely on the organisation of efficient (communications. Ihe old cables and shipping must be reinforced by the new wireless and air-liners. It is in the provision of the last-named that the Empire has fallen far behind. If it is not to be caught flatfooted after the war, development of air transport should begin at once with an eye to to-day’s military needs and to-mor-row’s world trade. The Empire will have to look to Britain for a lead anmost of the mechanical means, but the Governments of .the Dominions and India have so much to gain from the development of air transport that they should add their voices and influence to those in London demanding a forward policy. As the most distant and isolated of all British lands, New Zealand should be specially interested m encouraging the piovement.