AIR TRAFFIC.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 230, 29 September 1933, Page 7

AIR TRAFFIC.

Great Development of Modern

Services.

INFLUENCE FOR WORLD GOOD

(British Official Wireless.)

RUGBY, September 28.

The Secretary of State for Air, the Marquess of Londonderry, in welcoming the delegates from about 30 air transport companies, who are attending the conference of the International Air Traffic Association, referred to the vast strides made in the development of regular air services.

The Minister stated that in 1928 the mileage covered by the regular air lines throughout the world was about 9000. To-day the figures stood at more than 200,000 miles. In 1928 the number of miles flown wa3 34,000,000, and this year the total was expected to reach 100,000,000.

In Europe alone there were about 10,000 miles of airways and over those routes 800 machines were in regular operation.

Lord Londonderry maintained that flying was a civilising and unifying influence in the modern world and a joint instrument for peace. He said he was convinced that the military aspect of flying would sink into comparative insignificance beside its iar wider and increasing use in every-day life as a means of bringing nations into closer contact. Distance, perhaps, was the greatest enemy of international understanding, and air travel naturally must be an influence for good if its uses and possibilities were suitably organised.