BRITISH CIVIL AVIATION

Press, Volume LXXXIV, Issue 25554, 23 July 1948, Page 7

BRITISH CIVIL AVIATION

“Black Prospect” For

Some Years STATEMENT MADE BY MINISTER (N.Z. Press Association—Copyright)

(Rec. 8 p.m.) LONDON, July 22. During a debate in the House of Lords, Lord Pakenham, Minister of Civil Aviation, said that British civil aviation, until the new British types of aircraft were operating, faced a black prospect for the next four or five years. The British Overseas Airways Corporation, through no fault of its own, operated many of its main routes under a serious competitive disadvantage. The competitive traffic position was generally disquieting. Unless something drastic could be done the present trouble could not be overcome until the British Handley -Page was operating in 1950. Britain could not hope to get level and begin to assert her superiority until the real British post-war types came into service at the beginning of 1953. Lord Pakenham said that if British civil aviation continued as at present the British flag might well be driven off world air routes. The Government intended to operate its 22 Canadairs on the main Empire routes. The fortunes of the British aircraft industry and the British airline operators were indissolubly linked, but un» less they took drastic action to fill the immediate gap the airline corporations would be ruined before the manufacturers could give them the right aeroplanes. The future of British civil aviation was very obscure. It was economically still a very chancy business.

TUDOR II NOT TO BE USED

STATEMENT IN HOUSE OF COMMONS

LONDON, July 21. The Parliamentary Secretary for the Ministry of Civil Aviation (Mr G. S. Lindgren) said in the House of Commons to-day that because trials of the Tudor II aircraft had proved exceedingly disappointing, the Government had decided to abandon the Tudor II and Tudor V as separate types. The Government had also decided to buy 22 Canadairs to fill the gap until other British post-war types—the Comet and others—were available. The agreement with the Canadian Government involved no immediate dollar outlay. Mr Lindgren said that the decision did not mean the abandonment of the "fly British” policy. The purchase of Canadairs was intended only to fill a temporary need. The first Canadairs would be delivered within eight months further 15 within a year. SHIPBUILDING BY BRITAIN 55 PER CENT. OF WORLD TONNAGE (Special Correspondent N.Z.P.A.) (Rec. 7 p.m.) LONDON, July' 22. Great Britain and Northern Ireland are building 55.8 per cent, of the 1151 steamers and motor-ships, totalling 14.021,889 tons gross, now under construction in the world. The remaining 457 vessels, amounting to 1,778,186 tons gross, are being built abroad. Lloyd’s Register of Shipbuilding for the quarter ended June 30 shows that work in hand in Britain and Northern Ireland on the construction of steam and motor merchant vessels at .the end of June was 105,668 tons more than in the previous quarter. The prefcent total of 2,243,703 tons gross under construction—lB9,327 tons above that of the previous year—has not been exceeded since December, 1921, when the figure was 2,638,679. “It is to be remembered, however,” the Lloyd’s* report says, “that the tonnage of vessels under construction continues to be influenced by the delays which present circumstances are imposing upon the completion of ships, and the consequent prolongations of time required for building them.” Returns show that there has been a continued increase in the tonnage intended for registration abroad or for sale. It now stands at 711,455 tons, or 31.7 per cent, of the tonnage being built in Britain.