EMPIRE AIR SERVICES

Greymouth Evening Star, 21 December 1934, Page 7

EMPIRE AIR SERVICES

GREAT EXPANSION PLANNED ALL RED ROUTE [BY CABLE—PRESS ASSN.—COPYRIGHT.] (Received December 21, 11.30 a.m.) LONDON, December 20. In the Commons, Sir Phillip Sassoon, outlining the scheme for the development of Imperial air communications, said the main features were, firstly faster schedules; secondly, more frequent services; thirdly, all first-class mail matter to the Empire to be carried by air. The scheme envisaged a service to Australia twice weekly, occupying seven days. He emphasised that the whole scheme thus far, was provisional and depended on the co-opera-tion of the Governments concerned. The “Daily Herald” says: Three of Britain’s leading constructors have started the preliminary work of building the first fleet of transAtlantic flying boats, capable of flying to Canada non-stop, carrying loads sufficiently great to make the ocean service a paying proposition, carrying firstly mails, then passengers. The “Evening Standard” says: The Empire is on the eve of the greatest airway expansion plan in history. Imperial Airways intend to abandon the present trans-European route, using instead great flying boats, via Gibraltar, Malta, Alexandria, Persian Gulf, to India, thus avoiding alien territory. Gibraltar will become an air centre of first importance, as the junction for the East, Cape, and South America.

FURTHER PARTICULARS RUGBY, December 20. Far reaching developments in Empire air communications are proposed in a scheme outlined in the Commons, by Sir P. Sassoon, who said these proposals which were the results of many months’ work of the Air Ministry and the Post Office, in consultation with Imperial Airways, were approved by. the British Government in late Summer, and subsequently communicated to the other Empire Governments concerned. Until the views from all of these Governments had been received, the scheme must be regarded as the basis for discussion only, since its realisation depends upon their willing co-operation and support. Sir P. Sassoon emphasised that his statement must therefore not be taken as prejudicing the issue. The scheme, he continued, contained three main features, first, very material improvement on the present time schedules between several parts of the Empire concerned; secondly, substantial increase in the frequency of services, and thirdly, all first class mail to Empire countries covered by projected services, in future, to be carried by air. The schedule was envisaged of just over 2 days to India, 21 to East Africa, 4 to Singapore, and 7 to Australia. Provision was made for 4 or possibly 5 services a week to India, 3 services a week to Singapore, and East Africa, and 2 to South Africa and Australia respectively. He could as yet say nothing definite about the letter rate proposed, but they hoped that so far as concerned the United Kingdom, the letter for Empire destination, subject to the successful outcome of negotiations with the Governments concerned, might be in the region of the present Empire rate of lid, but this would apply per half ounce, instead of to the first ounce as at present. He mentioned that correspondence covering at least S sides .of special light, paper could be sent within the half ounce limit. It would of course be for the other participants to fix their own postal charges.

An integral feature of the scheme was the comprehensive programme for the development of the ground organisation of Empire air routes, on a basis which would enable services which would cater for passenger as well as mail traffic, to operate by night as freely as by day. Sir P. Sassoon added it would not be practicable to give further details as regards finance, types of aircraft ,etc., until the negotiations with other Governments concerned were completed, and he could as yet give no date for inauguration of the scheme. The provision of the necessary fleet, ground organisation etc., would require a period of something like two years, before a project of this magnitude constituting as it does the largest step forward which has yet been taken in development of Empire air communications could be brought into full operation. Further, the Postmaster-Gen-eral desired to make clear there was little possibility of introducing the ljd postal rate for Imperial first class correspondence carried by air betoi e 1937. From December 30, the EnglandSouth Africa air mail will operate twice a week, instead of once. The Wednesday service will operate to Cape Town, but the Sunday service only to Johannesburg. From January 1, the air mail service to India will also operate twice a week. The Saturdav service will operate right through to Australia, but the Tuesday service only to Calcutta.

NEW ZEALAND’S PART.

MR HAMILTON’S STATEMENT

WELLINGTON, December 21. The Postmaster-General (Mr Hamilton) stated, to-day that negotiations have been proceeding for some time past with His Majesty’s Government in Britain, for an Empire air mail. The Minister said he was now able to announce that the proposals included a twice-weekly air service between Britain and Australia, for carriage of first-class air mail only. The scheme is based on the carriage of a letter weighing half an ounce from England to Australia, for the existing English postal rate of lid. Much has to be done yet and it is not likely this scheme can come into force until 1937. So far this country has not dealt with the carriage of mail across the Tasman by air. but no doubt New Zealanders will look forward to the extension of the scheme from Sydney to New Zealand. It will be recollected that the Government elected to become a foundation member of the Empire air scheme, and now contributes £5,000 a year by way of token payment. A further sum will be necessary if New Zealand is to benefit by the new scheme, which must be regarded as even more startling than the introduction of penny postage within the Empire.

ENGLISH MAIL DELAYED.

SYDNEY, December 20.

It is announced that the London air mails will reach Narromine on Friday morning, where the Sydney and New Zealand portion, also the Duke of Gloucester’s, will be transferred to two specially-chartered planes, and brought to Sydney direct, instead of from the official terminal at Cootamundra.

LATER.

Advice has been received that the Diana aeroplane, carrying the bulk of the air mails, was damaged through striking a stone when taking off at Camooweal last night.

A substitute aeroplane, piloted by Captain Brain, arrived there at one o’clock, to-day and resumed the journey with the mails.

Mr Parkhill, Minister of Defence, states it is impossible for the London air-mails to be delivered in Sydney and Melbourne before Saturday, while the New Zealand section will probably go by the Oronsay from Brisbane on Monday.

NOT ULM’S PLANE.

(Recd. December 21, 9.30 a.m.) HONOLULU, December 20. Navy officials believe that the aircraft pieces found at Niihau are part of a condemned Navy plane, as the strut is of aluminium, while Ulm’s .plane struts were of wood. LATER. Navy officials announced that, the strut found at Niihau was from an obsolete seaplane, dumped in the sea last summer. It was. a bar between pontoons. The Navy officials say that Ulm’s plane had struts of steel and wood, not aluminium, like that found. The Lanakai is sailing late to-day. DUTCH LINER IN TROUBLE? (Recd. December 21, 8 a.m.) CAIRO, December 20. The K.L.M. air-liner, which was second in the Melbourne air-race, attempting a record delivery of Christmas mails to Batavia and back from Amsterdam in five days, left Cairo last night. It was seen over Gaza at midnight. but no wireless signals have been received since. It is believed to be in difficulties owing to bad weather. R.A.F. machines are searching.

RUGBY, December 20.

It is feared that the lost Dutch Douglas air-liner was forced down during a terrific thunderstorm. Bad visi-

bility and the state of the ground will make the search difficult, both for aircraft and on land. The liner carried three passengers and a crew of four, including Beekman and Van Steenbergen

AMSTERDAM, December 20

The air race competitor Geysendorffer, piloting a. Fokker, leaves Amsterdam at midnight for Baghdad as rapidly as possible, using the Baghdad base from which to search for missing Douglas, which is piloted by Commander Beekman and a crew of three, and also three passengers, D. Berretz, D. Kort and Professor Waller, all Dutchmen. CAIRO, December 20.

The Royal Air Force search was suspended owing to tempestuous weather any may be resumed at dawn if conditions improve.

WALLER’S AFRICAN VENTURE

RUGBY, December 21

Kenneth Waller, who with Cathcart Jones recently flew to Australia and back in ISA days, left yesterday for Belgium to make a flight to Belgian Congo in the Comet aeroplane used dmmFl irstO fln.J.RlrclF on the Australian flight. The range of the machine will be reduced and other modifications introduced for the journey, which is intended to demonstrate the possibility of a regular air mail service bv this route. LATER. The De Havilland Comet, in which Waller, with the Belgian Captain Franchemme, loft Brussels to-day on a flight to Leopoldville, landed at Oran this afternoon, having completed the 1060 miles stage in four hours fifty-six minutes, at aspeed of 210 miles an hour. They will tao-morrow proceed to Nuamoy, French West Africa, 1550 miles distant.

NEW GUINEA MISHAP. SYDNEY, December 21. A message- was received from R-abaul that Pilot Donald Crisp had arrived safely at Wan. He escaped with bruises and a shaking, when after running into a severe storm, the machine crashed in the treetops. His smoke signals were seen by search planes. CENTENARY WINNERS. RUGBY, December 20. Lord Londonderry proposed the health of Scott and Black, at a. dinner given in their honour by the Royal Aero Club. There were over 1000 guests, including the pilots of the Dutch air liner, Parmentier and Moll. —=■ 4 f'Tl’.