EMPIRE UNITY.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 19854, 15 February 1930, Page 15

EMPIRE UNITY.

dwblopmbnt OF TRADg.

iHRSWr AND AEROPLAIfjB

j SERVICES. (BaiTIM OFFICIAL WXEKLBSB.) February 14th, 5.5 p.m.) RUGBY, February 13. Sir Denniston Burney, discussing various types of aircraft in relation to economic development of the Empire, said last night that .he thought that excellent results had been obtained from their two experimental airships, RIOO and RlOl, which left no donbt as to the feasibility of constructing a rigid airship capable of a cruising speed of 90 miles per hour; with a commercial range of 3500 miles, and with the ability to carry a payable load exclusive of crew and fuel of 30 to 50 tons at that speed and range. Recent developments in flying-boats suggested that that type of craft would shortly attain a commercial range of 1250 miles at 120 miles an hour, and with a pay load of 10 tons. With regard to large land aeroplanes, n machine with a commercial range of 600 milas and a speed of 110 miles an hour, and a pay load capacity of four tons seemed to _be a reasonable certainty. The airship, however, was becoming more efficient with every new (construction, and there semed ho be little doubt that the next few years would see. a solution of practically all difficulties which now mitigated against its commercial operation. The three types would not be competing types, but supplementary to each other. The great trunk lines of the Imperial air system would be the big airshin and flyine-boat routes, which would serve within the Empire a function similar to that served by the great trunk railwavs of the United States of America. A host of short distance or feeder aeroplane routes linking up every town and province with the main arteries would complete the system.

The financial cost of the inauguration of the scheme would he very great but the impetus given to Empire trade and industries would repay for the outlay.

MORE PUBLICITY. SIR CHARLES HJGHAM'S OPINION (Received February 14th, 8.40 p.m.) LONDON, February 13. Sir Charles Higham, addressing the Royal Empire Society, said: "British trade dwells in the wilderness of apathy. . We are standing still, while others wave the trade flag. We are too satisfied with ourselves and need waking up. The- Empire's industries must collectively organise, advertise, and toll the world, or the world will forget them. The cheapest and quickest way is to tell the world through the newspapers."