"ATTACKING THE ATLANTIC"

Press, Volume LXXII, Issue 21747, 1 April 1936, Page 11

"ATTACKING THE ATLANTIC"

BRITAIN DEVELOPING AIR SERVICES CRITICISMS OF IMPERIAL AIRWAYS BILL READ IN HOUSE OF COMMONS (UNITED I'HESS ASSOCIATION—COPYRIGHT.) (Received March 31, 8.27 p.m.) LONDON, March 31. "We are on the point of attacking the Atlantic, in addition to developing Empire air routes," said Sir Philip Sassoon (Under-Secretary for Air) in the House of Commons, moving the second reading of the Air Navigation Bill, extending' the present annual subsidy of £ 1,000,000 until 1940 to £1,500,000 until 1955. Members criticised the bill from the point of view of subsidies aftd of the past service of Imperial Airways.

Mrs H. B. Tate asked why Britain had no service in so many parts of the world where lines ought to be operated. Australia intended to take over the service from Singapore to Brisbane and Sydney, which was an indication of the service given by Imperial Airways. Pan-American Airways was going to run a service to Australia and New Zealand.

Major J. W. Hills said that Imperial Airways would fly over any route provided the Government would the money. It was said that the company's machines on Empire routes were obsolete and slow, but it was impossible for it to order the new machines required for Empire routes until the subsidy question was settled. The machines had been actually ordered beforehand, and the delay was due in part to trouble in coming to terms with the Australian Government. Sir Alan Anderson said that aviation development was all a question of money. Other nations were spending on an entirely different scale. Sir Alfred Beit said that Australia's attitude about sending all first-class mails by air without surcharge remained unsatisfactory. Australia's strategic needs could be satisfied if land aeroplanes were kept for the internal feeder services.

Australia would benefit by acceptance of the Air Ministry's proposition of a flying-boat service, because she would have at her disposal both types of aircraft in an emergency.

Defending Imperial Airways, Sir Philip Sassoon declared that foreign competitors were copying the company's system more and more. He added that 26 foreign nations were using English machines. The bill was read a second time by 140 votes to 85.