POST-WAR FLYING

Evening Post, Volume CXXXVI, Issue 43, 19 August 1943, Page 6

POST-WAR FLYING

IMPERIAL AIRWAYS '

GROUNDS FOR CONFIDENCE O.C. AUCKLAND, ThisrDay. j Confidence in the future of British Empire air transport was expressed yesterday by Sir Fergus McMaster, chairman of Qantas. Empire Airways and; a director of Tasman Empire Airways, who is shortly returning to Australia after a business visit to New Zealand.

Commenting on the work' of the British Overseas Airways Corporation, the chosen instrument of the British Government in its field, Sir Fergus said one had to remember that the change-over from Imperial Airways took place after the declaration of war. Naturally, civil aviation had to give way to war operations, not only in regard to the supply of aircraft, but in actual airline operation.

"I • have every confidence that ■ the British Overseas Airways Corporation will develop the Empire air- routes which will be its concern to the fullest extent immediately war conditions and the release of suitable aircraft will allow," Sir Fergus said. "There has been . considerable criticism- of Empire, air operations,, but we have fo remember that Britain was faced with annihilation. It was a matter of diverting the whole of her aircraft production, first to fighter and later to bomber aircraft. That left no opportunity whatever for the needs of commercial or civil purposes.

"We can feel no doubt that when the position allows, British air transport will take its place as leader in post-war development, which will be very considerable," Sir Fergus added. "We can look forward to considerable development in the aircraft and airline operations linking New Zealand with Australia and with other British interests in these areas."

Both in New Zealand and Australia they wanted to give encouragement to a greater extent, rather than what could be called too-fierce criticism, to the work that had been and was being done in Empire air routes. Tasman Empire Airways had been faced with difficulties as a result of the war and had had to commence operations under war restrictions. In spite of that, its record in safety and regularity would compare more than favourably with any airline operations of a similar nature.