EMPIRE AIR MAILS

Evening Star, Issue 22271, 24 February 1936, Page 8

EMPIRE AIR MAILS

ATTITUDE OF AUSTRALIA SYDNEY NEWSPAPER SPEAKS OUT Press. Association —By Telegraph—Copyright SYDNEY, February 24. (Received February 24, at 1.30 p.m.) The Sydney ‘ Morning Herald,’ in a leader commenting on the Empire air mail, emphasises that the control suggested by the British authorities is in the nature of a joint one between British and Australian interests. It is to be a partnership for mutual good. Uniformity, of course, is necessary in certain matters—there must be one homogeneous fleet and not two separate fleets of different types. The final decisions must lie with the senior partner, who, in this case, will not only be the experienced member of the firm but also the one who has put the capital into the concern. The British Government is willing to pay about half the cost of the transtasman service, while New Zealand and Australia each pay only one-quarter. Under such an arrangement it would be absurd for British interests not to have a substantial share of “ control.” India and South Africa support Empire partnership in air mails, and it is Australia alone which is holding up this tremendous development—by talking of “ control ” and wanting to play in its own little backyard all by itself. It is a quaint but ridiculous case of everyone being out of step but ourselves. Finally, an Empire service would bring us into closer contact with England and the world at large. Perhaps the best argument for the Empire air mail scheme and its necessity is the manner of its rejection in certain quarters. It is the greatest step yet proposed toward a solution of our remoteness.