AIR TRAVEL.

Press, Volume LVII, Issue 17295, 5 November 1921, Page 12

AIR TRAVEL.

BRITISH OVERSEA SERVICES, MEED POE GOVERNMENT BACKING, (Bt Cable—Preee Association—Copyright.) (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) LONDON, November 3. Lieutenant A. Baldwin Raper, a member of the House of Commons, who served in the war as an air pilot, interviewed regarding the numerous questions in the House in relation to air services, stated that he hoped to stir the Government to recover Great Britain's lost position in the air. He was interested in Mr Hughes's enthusiasm in the direction of the establishment of a service connecting the Motherland and Australia. Lieutenant Raper added: —"If the British Government does not show a similar enthusiasm, private enterprise will probably lind a way. It would be a good thing if some rich, patriotic Australians joined hands with Englishmen in promoting the services. It is scandalous that Great Britain is so far behind France in the matter of aerial communication with the colonies. If the right people were to come forward, the Government would probably guarantee a certain quantity of mail. France has already six international air routes, and proposes in 1922 to create further connexions with her colonies." Lieutenant Raper said be was pressing the Government to outline a definite policy on civil and military aviation.(Received November 4th, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, November 3. Mr G. Holt Thomas, the aviation authority, says regular aeroplane services to India, South Africa, and Australia are certainly practicable, for the worst climatic- conditions that could be encountered occurred in North Europe, and the cross-Channel services were daily overcoming them. If the Imperial and Dominion Governments were prepared to guarantee a minimum annual quantity of air mail matter, he had no doubt that a company to undertake the services could readily be formed and financed. The cross-Channel services showed that receipts amounting to three phfllings per ton per mile were now profitable. CAIRO TO BAGDAD SERVICE. (Received November 4th, 8.10 p.m.) LONDON, November 4. The Postmaster-General has decided to continue the Cairo to Bagdad air service Latest advices show that the service of regular mails despatched from London on October 20th were delivered in Bagdad on the 30th, which is k record.