The Dominion. FRIDAY, JANUARY 21, 1944. POST-WAR CIVIL AVIATION

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 98, 21 January 1944, Page 4

The Dominion. FRIDAY, JANUARY 21, 1944. POST-WAR CIVIL AVIATION

A good deal of uneasiness will be occasioned by the reported agreements reached between the New Zealand Government and the Australian Government representatives at the Canberra conference on the subject of post-war air transport. As recorded the conference .is stated to have decided to support “the principle that the ownership, operation and control of international [air] routes should be invested in an international authority.” The point of importance here to be noted is “international ownership and operation.” It has been generally recognized that some form of international control of air transport will be both desirable and necessary in the post-war period, but international ownership and operation are quite different matters. . It is generally recognized that the whole future of the British Empire must be largely influenced by the form of development taken by air transport and communication. It is one of the vitally pressing questions of the future and one demanding profound deliberation and wise judgment, based on the fullest possible knowledge of the technical and political considerations to be taken into account, before any final course of action is decided on. Yet at Canberra, after practically a few hours of discussion, a decision appears to have been reached, the effects of which may occasion great embarrassment, and which. so far as New Zealand is concerned will not be likely on examination to find general public approval. Under the proposal favoured at Canberra any scheme of Empire air transport and communication, such as has been envisaged by aviation authorities in the Mother Country and in Canada, would be rendered impossible. But the thing that most clearly stamps the Canberra decision on these important matters as premature is the fact that, as yet. the British Government has not made any statement of policy. Speaking in London during the week the Duke of Sutherland, president of the Air League, is reported to have said: “The British Government has not yet announced its policy on post-war air transport.” That policy will be of no minor importance to any general policy. During a parliamentary debate on the subject in London it was stated that the first aim of the Government was to win the war, but that it was also giving earnest study to civil aviation. And the report during the last few, days of-a huge transport craft, just constructed, indicates that action is not lagging behind investigation. The Government spokesman added, however, that “much preparatory work must be done before the Government could formulate a policy.” The first step is held to be the formulation of a general policy for the British Commonwealth of Nations. Viscount. Bennett, a Canadian, speaking at a recent conference in London, said: “Nothing but. an Empire air service will be satisfactory. As it has not been possible even to start on that major undertaking yet, the way is not clear for international plans. The whole issue will be brought much nearer the point of decision when the British Government announces its views on the future of air transport. -If the London conference, with experts available for consultation, was said to be have paved the way for essential discussions, but “in the near future there must, be a much fuller exploration of ways and means,” it will seem to most people highly unlikely that the'conference at Canberra had the data required to warrant definite decisions on international aviation policy, and for that reason the course advocated appears to be purely a reflection of the political objectives of the two Governments concerned.