FUTURE AIRWAYS

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 64, Issue 1, 12 October 1943, Page 5

FUTURE AIRWAYS

CONFERENCE IN LONDON. BRITAIN’S PART IN PROBLEM. (N Z. Press Association— Copyright.) LONDON, Oct. 10. The Empire Air Conference will open in London to-morrow, under the chairmanship of Lord Beaverbroolt, who assisted Mr Churchill with the preparations, and who will be primarily responsible for the co-ordination of United Kingdom policy. The early meetings of the conference, at which the Dominions and India will be represented, will be informal, and it is hoped that the scope and membership of tire conference will he enlarged as the work proceeds. The “Economist” says that international freedom of the air on a national basis as defined by Mr Roosevelt and Mr Churchill “is probably, at present, the highest measure of agreement among the air powers; but there are cogent reasons in favour of more radical internationalisation. The internationalisation of all airports and trunk lines would tend to prevent militarism in the development of aviation and render the most effective service to the nations as a whole.

“At the present stage, however,” says the “Economist,” “the supersession of national and international airlines is likely to follow, not precede, the supersession of national by international air forces. The question is what the unit of organisation shall be. It is a choice between nationalism and regionalism. The division of the skies into exclusive spheres of influence among the major peoples would be as disastrous to peace as similar spheres in a shipping or diplomacy: but in practice a degree of regionalism is unavoidable. '*

“Imperial defence is impossible without American aid, and security in the Western Hemisphere is impossible without the joint efforts of Britain, Russia, and China,

“Regionalism should be regarded by Britain and the United States as more Mian half way from nationalism to internationalism.”

The method suggested is to work out a chain of regional and interregional arrangements, which would add up to practical internationalism. Discussing the choice between Gov-ernment-operated air transport public corporations, or private airlines, the “Economist” says this should not be decided on a basis of prejudice or political doctrine. “The only criterion is the efficient use of resources, and service to the community. "Airlines in every country will require State aid and the best contribution the State can make to British aviation would be to maintain a sufficient military demand to keep in being an efficient and enterprising aircraft industry. The important need, immediately, is quality, not quantity, and British designers have already been set to work to fashion four new transport types.”