Merchant Air Service Recommended For N.Z.

Press, Volume XCIII, Issue 27998, 19 June 1956, Page 19

Merchant Air Service Recommended For N.Z.

A Merchant Air Service may be constituted in New Zealand if the newlyformed New Zealand Air League adopts British policy. Speaking to foundation members of the Christchurch branch of the league last evening. a prominent member of the British organisation, Air Commodore Sydney Smith, said that recognition of the Merchant Air Service should be made on the same basis as that accorded the Merchant Navy.

“By virtue of its record in the last war and the increasing importance of air transport, both in peace and war time, the Merchant Air Service should be represented on State and public occasions at which representatives of the auxiliary' services of the Crown are present, and officers of the merchant air service should be eligible for the same decorations as those at present awarded to officers of the Merchant Navy,” he said.

A proposal that this should be done in Britain had been accepted, and last year the Merchant Air Service received the first public acknowledgement of its new status on Armistice Day when crews of the State corporations and the independent air transport operators paraded at the Cenotaph service. Air Commodore Smith said. It was hoped that Queen Elizabeth would consent to become titular head of tne service.

“The Merchant Air Service is related to the Royal Air Force in precisely the same way as the Merchant Navy is related to the Royal Navy.” Air Commodore Smith said. “It is a uniformed and disciplined service, and in time of war performs similar functions to those of the Merchant Navy The strength of the Merchant Air Service in the United Kingdom at the present time is approximately 3500.

That is the total of flying staff and takes no account of ground personnel. “With the increasing growth of air commerce, the Merchant Air Service will undergo even greater expansion, and will become increasingly important to the trade and commerce of the Commonwealth and Empire in peace and of its defence organisations in time of war." Air Commodore Smith said.