AVIATION.

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 258, 30 October 1926, Page 9

AVIATION.

IMPERIAL AIRWAYS.

DOMINIONS' RIVAL CLAIMS.

PREPARATIONS WANTED.

CBy Cable.—Press Association.—Copyright.) LONDON, October 29. The morning session of the Imperial Conference yesterday was devoted to aviation. Mr. Mackenzie King, Prime Minister of Canada, emphasised the use made in Canada for discovering and combating forest fires, and for surveying and photographing unknown areas. The Prime Minister of Australia, Mr. S. M. Bruce, said that in Australia flying had long passed the experimental stage and had become part of the country's life. He said: "It is no more difficult to take an aeroplane in order to shorten my journey to England than to call a taxi." Mr. Bruce paid a tribute to Sir Rosa and Sir Keith Smith, who were the first airmen to fly from England to Australia, also to Parer and Macintosh, and Sir Alan Cobham for his recent feat. Mr. J. G. Coates, "Prime Minister of New Zealand, admitted that this country was somewhat backward jn aviation. Hitherto they had not considered it as a commercial proposition, but solely from a defence point of view. Sir Samuel Hoare ■ (Director of Civil Aviation) said there was no reason why the journey from England to Canada should not be reduced to two and a-half days, that to Tndia to five days, Capetown bix days, Australia 11 days, and New Zealand 13 days. Masts must Sir S. Hoar*. , be erected throughout the Empire in readiness for an airship service. The discussion brought home the immense advance in flying since 1023. The delegates showed a unanimous desire to 'assist in opening up inter-Imperial airways. "Fairplay," commenting on Sir James Connolly's scheme for a 22-knot shipping service between England and Australia, says; "While there is no question that ships could be designed and built, it is doubtful whether even with mail subsidies, the business offering would be sufficient to justify the venture. The suggestion that the Imperial Government should confine the carriage of migrants to this new service and the Commonwealth Shipping Line is as absurd as to imagine all existing lines calmly and without protest allowing all refrigerated cargo to be offered in the first instance to the new line. "Judging from the Imperial, Shipping Committee's report in 1923 there isn't much chance of the contemplated steamers ever being built. A close study of the report indicates that the proposed service could not obtain a profit on the terms obtainable. What Australian exporters want is faster steamers combined with lower freights." After Mr. S. M. Bruce's recital of Australia's splendid achievement iq commercial aviation, notably, a West Australian 1442 miles route which he believed was unequalled anywhere, it was surprising to hear the Conference publicity officer inform the Press to-night that Mr. MaeKenjne King had told a fascinating story of Canada's aerial development, "which from the point of view of utility was probably higher than that of any other country." Australian official circles were quickly on the track of this assertion, which scarcely did Australia justice. In dealing with Sir Samuel Hoare's request for co-operation in preparing for an Imperial air service, Mr. Bruce said he would give sympathetic consideration to providing mooring-masts and meteorological stations' after he had learned details at first hand from the Air Ministry during investigations on Empire aerial defence. MOTORS TOM DOMINIONS. MR. EUVCE WOT IMPRESSED. MAKERS ARRANGING CONFERENCE LONDON, October 20. Mr. S. M. Bruce, Federal Prime Minister, did not rniSPe Ws words when criticising exhibits at the OJympia Motor Show.' He told the demonstrators he was not greatly impressed with the progress made towards ' realising Australia's needs, He admitted Britain was' sending out better types of cars, but what he wanted was fewer models and ones really designed to suit Australian conditions. He did not see there was much chance of remedying inequalities in the market while makers were obsessed with the idea of approximating their standards to make one car suit both British and Australian needs. He renewed a hint that perhaps it would pay to have assembling plants in Australia which would overcome the difficulty of obtaining spare parts.

Proof that notice was taken of Mr. Bruce's remarks is that the motor trade have arranged an early conference with him and with Mr. J. G. Coatgs, Prime Minister of New Zealand,