THREE SCHEMES TO BE CONSIDERED

Evening Post, Volume CII, Issue 16, 21 July 1921, Page 7

THREE SCHEMES TO BE CONSIDERED

PROPOSALS OUTLINED

A COMMITTEE TO REPORT.

(UNITED PRESS ASSOCIATION.—COPTHIOHT.) (AUSTRALIAN - NEW ZEALAND CAILE ASSOCIATION.) LONDON, 19th July. . An Air Ministry communique states: '"Hie Government policy on .the airship question contemplates the formation of a company ■with capital controlled by British shareholders, the Air Ministry being represented on the board. Only three schemes merit consideration. Tbe first is that outlined by Mr. A. H. Ashbolt. The second is that of Mr. M. N. Greenhill, who proposes a company ■with four millions of capital, the Government to equip and adapt for commercial work •existing airships free of cost, and hand over all material free, the Government also to pay a subsidy of £300,000 per annum till the company is on a paying basis. The proposal also asks the Dominions to pay a small subsidy when regular services are established. Both these proposals contemplate developing routes to Egypt, India, South Africa, and Australia. The third scheme is submitted by Lieutenant-Commandei 1 Ballantyne, covering the operation of existing airships between lingkmd and I Italy, Egypt and South Africa. Ho proposes to form a company with two millions of capital, the first issue being of a million and a-quartor, the Government handing over existing material free of charge, and during the development period handing over an annual sum not exceeding 6 per cent, on the paid-up capital. This would be repaid when the company was ■on a paying basis. The Conference appointed a technical expert committee, under the chairmanship of the Secretary of' State for.Air. The committee consists of Lard Gorell, Sir Hugh Trenchard, M&jor-General Sykes, of the Air Ministry; Sir G. h. Barstow, representing the Treasury; Mr. | J. E. Stephenson, the Colonial Office; Sir Ross Smith, Australia and New Zealand:; Colonel Mentz, South Africa; and representatives of Canada, and . India. The committee ■will meet and immediately report to. Conference before the latter breaks up. The Dominions wi!l be asked to say what conditions are desired, artd what amount they can contribute. Tho British Government will then decide ■whether to ask Parliament for a subscription. If airship communication ia to be' developed within the Empire, a chain of stations will be required, consisting of two or three bases, also a certain number of mooring masts. : Proof must also be given that regularity | equal to existing; transport can be obtained on long-distance flights. [Mr. A. H. Ashbolt (Agent-ijeneral for Tasmania) proposes a company with a capital of £1,500,000, and the first t issuo will be ,£750,000, Australia to take up £100,000 and New Zealand £55,000. It is proposed that the first service shall be to Egypt, and' subsequently extend to India, Australia, and South Africa. The ports of call include Marseilles, Athens, Cairo, Basi'a, Bombay, Colombo, Singapore, Java, Perth, Melbourne, Sydney, Wellington, I Mombafisa, and Capetown. The first plant •will comprise the existing British ships, which probably will suffice for a fows years. It is anticipated that the airships will be capable of reaching India and South Africa in five days, and Australia and New Zealand in ten or twelve.] LONDON, 19th July. Sir Ross Smith has been, appointed Australian expert to' the special board-j set. up to prepare a concreto scheme for Empire airship communications.