WAY OF THE AIR.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 213, 8 September 1928, Page 9

WAY OF THE AIR.

EMPIRE SERVICES. Notable Strides In Direction Of Development. STATE HELP LACKING. (Australian aatl 2C.Z. Press Association.) LONDON, September 7. At a meeting of Imperial Airways. Limited, Sir Erie Geddes presided. He announced his resignation from the board of directors in order to give his undivided attention to the organisation of the Dunlop Company. Sir Eric said the new agreement with the Government contained as one of its main features a weekly air service between England and India, which it was intended to make a bi-weekly one as the traffic developed. He believed flights from London to the Cape, and from London to Australia could be accomplished as a commercial proposition provided that the company was given sufficient support in the early years, and the co-operation <of the Air Ministry. The company had made notable strides in the direction of the development of the maring side of civil aviation. He said he thought that in the near future the company would be prepared to undertake long oversea flights to Singapore and to Australia. The Government's agreement was or the lines of successful commercial development. From that point of view the Government was following the right and proper course, but Sir Eric wathoroughly discontented with the paucity of the assistance. He would have liked the Government to have said: "We give you this agreement and will shortly enter into an agreement to go to the Cape or to Singapore. Then we will give you a further agreement to go to Australia. We will settle with the Empire Governments what their share is to be/"' But the Government's cry had been "Not one penny more. Go and get other subsidies if you can." However, he felt sure that once this route was organised further assistance in the early years for new sections Avould be forthcoming.

FORCED DELAY.

Rain, Snow And Wind Deter Godfrey. CROSS CANADA FLIGHT. (Australian and N.Z. Press Association.) (Received 'J. 30 a.m.) EDMONTON, September 7. Rain. snow and -wind forced SquadronLeader A. E. Godfrey, who was attempting a trans-Canadian flight, to delay the. linai hop fur Vancouver. lie expects to start the last 753 miles en Fridav night.

NEW AGREEMENT.

Imperial Airways And British Government. NECESSARY RESOLUTIONS. (British Official Wireless.) (Received 12 noon.) RUGBY, September 7. Alter the general meeting of the Imperial Airways, an extraordinary general meeting was held, at which the chairman (Sir Eric Geddes) gave information regarding the new agreement with the' Government, and asked shareholders to adupt the necessary amendments to the articles of association. Ihe main loature oi the new agreement. lie said, was the establishment of a weekly service between England and India with the most modern aircraft, having the carrying capacity of 1A to two tons. As the traliic developed, it was intended to make the service biweekly.

One agreement also provided for a more rapid obsolescence of the fleet and the replacement by more up-to-date units. Another provision was the transfer to the company of two large three-engined, all-metal" flying boats. Subsidies to be earned by the company for the European service, as well as the new Indian service, were spread over ten years, and amounted to over £2,-300,000.

Under the new agreement the company were asked to issue to the Secretary of State for Air, Sir Samuel Hoare, 25,000 deferred shares of £1 each credited as fully paid. During the period of agreement these shares would have no dividend rights until after the ordinary shareholders had received 10 per cent on the paid-up capital. After the expiry of the new agreement the deferred shares were to be entitled to half of the profits available for distribution' in excess of a sum representing 10 per cent on the ordinary paid-up capital. Shareholders were also asked to ratify further alterations to the articles of association, designed to preclude any possibilitv of foreign interest or control. The necessary resolutions were carried unanimously. INDIA TO ENGLAND. HINKLER'S TIME BETTERED. (United Service.) (Received 11! noon.) LONDON, September 7. Captain C. D. Barnard and FlyingOfficer E. Allcott arrived at Crovdon yesterday from Karachi in a Fo'kker monoplane. They had flown 5000 miles in four and a-half days. The final stage, of the flight, from Sofia to Croycon, a distance of 1400 miles, was a non-stop. This is the fastest flight made from India to England. Mr. Bert Hinkler's fli glit from England to India occupied seven days. Ihey made only four landings. From Karachi they started on Sunday morning. They reached Bushire. and took off on Monday, with the intention of proceeding to' Aleppo, but they were delayed by head winds, and had to land in the desert. They reached Aleppo on Tuesday, Sofia on Wednesday,, and flew to Croydon on Thursday.