AIR SERVICES

Evening Post, Volume CII, Issue 29, 3 August 1921, Page 5

AIR SERVICES

HOSTILITY OF THE

MINISTRY

PARSIMONY IN THE CIVIL PHASE

COMMENTS BY THE TIMES.

(UNITED PRESS ASSOCIATION.—COPTRtGHT.) (PDBIiISUBD IN 188 TIMES.)

LONDON, 2nd August.

The Times, in a leader, states: "The core of the whole airship controversy is fche.lavishness of the military air expenditure, accompanied by the doctrinaire parsimony in everything concerning civil Hying. While the Imperial Conference is carefully deliberating a decision of the greatest Imperial importance, the Air Ministry, through the medium of Major Guest, forestalls it and sallies forth to convince the Dominion delegates that the expense will be greater than the British States can afford. The Air Ministry is unable to visualise the vast Imperial importance of the civil and commercial phase, and is unwilling to learn the possibilities in spite of the proof from the United States and Germany of their faith in airships. The Dominion delegates, however, appreciate the need of swift communications, and will not reject lightly any project likely to assist in attaining them. One of their difficulties is the open hostility of the Air Ministry. It is neither pleasant nor easy for the Dominion Premiers to go on in the face of the British official opposition, but they will not shrink if they believe Imperial interests demand firmness."