EMPIRE AIR SERVICES

Greymouth Evening Star, 19 May 1938, Page 9

EMPIRE AIR SERVICES

INCREASED SUBSIDY LABOUR OPPOSITION [BRITISH OFFICIAL WIRELESS] RUGBY, May . IS. The new Secretary for Air’(Sir C. Kingsley Wood) was cheered in the Commons, . on- rising to move the second reading of the Air. Navigation Bill, which gives effect to parts of the Cadman report, and increased from £1,500,000 to £3,000,000 the subsidies to air transport. Additional financial assistance to be given on routes outside Europe will amount to about £1,000,000, and the greater part will be concentrated on the Empire routes. Some £4,000,000 will be devoted to improved services on the European routes. . LONDON, May 18. After 'Sir C. Kingsley Wood moved the second .reading of the Air Navigation Bill, a Labour member (Mr Montague), moving the rejection, argued that Government aid' to firms operating for profit was illogical -and contrary to public interest, Mr Lyons asked what amount was allowed lor the regular service between Australia and:.. .. New Zealand, and argued in favour of night flying on Empire services. He said the aim of Parliament was to link up the Empire and bring the longest distances into the shortest time.-

Captain H. H'. Balfour, in reply, said the Government’s policy was to temper monopoly with a reasonable amount of competition. Imperial Airways was really a public utility. The company was in a better position to function in the commercial world than a Government department. The profits were controlled, but any loss fell on those venturing on. this enterprise. The Government was reviewing the question of the Australia—New Zealand service. Sir C. Kingsley Wood was meeting the representatives of the Dominions.

AIRMEN DROWNED.

R.A.F. ’PLANES COLLIDE. (Received May 19, 11 a.m.) (SINGAPORE, May IS. Three men are believed to have been drowned when two Royal Air Force planes collided. One dived into the sea in Johore Straits. U.S.A. LINER MISSING LOS ANGELES, May 18. A Lockheed transport aeroplane, on its maiden flight, carrying nine persons, including four women and two children, to St. Paul, has been missing for hours. It is believed to have crashed on a mountainside. Search parties have- been, compelled by bad weather to cease their efforts. ALL PASSENGERS KILLED (Recd.-May 19, 2 p.m.j. LOS ANGELES. May 18. The missing airliner was found crumpled on the-.slppes of a mountainside in Mint Uariyo'n, 20 mileis north of Saugus. All the nine passengers were dead: The bodies' were burnt. Apparently, the plane crashed with terrific force and burst into flames.

MOUNTAIN FOGS THE CAUSE WELLINGTON, May. 18. Messrs Brown and Bureau, Ltd., New Zealand agents for Lockheed aeroplanes, say they have been advised from America, that the missing machine disappeared 'in the mountains while on delivery to North-West Airlines, with nine occupants. The message stated that the weather was good at the take off and at the destination; but local fogs in the mountains were undoubtedly the cause, of the crash.

FLYING DOCTOR MISSING;" ' (Received May 19; lita.m’.) DARWIN, May 18. Doctor David King, aged 26, the flying; doctor of North-western Australia, and the pilot, Reginald Robinson, aged 35, are missing in an ambulance'plane, between Wyndham aijd Victoria River Downs, in the Northern Territory. King left Wyndham to attend an urgent call from the Victoria River cattle station, and has not been seen since. An intensive search, in which the Northern Territory flying, doctor, Doctor Fenton, will participate, will bo conducted- to-day'. ;■ N. ZEALANDER’^”APPOINTMENT LONDON, May 18; Squadron Leader D. H. F. Barnett, 1 a New Zealander, serving in Iraq, has received an appointment to command number ■ eighty-four bomber squadron, Shaibah.

TASMAN MAILS. WELLINGTON, May 18. Discussions on the projected transTasman air service were held in Wellington to-dav between Ministers of Crown and Mr. A. E. Rudder, personal representative in Australia of Imperial Airways and director of Qantas Empire Airways. In an interview this evening the Prime Minister (Mr. Savage)’ said-that the discussions in the morning .with Mr. Rudder had been attended by'the Minister.;for Finance (Hon. W. Nash), the ’ Minister for Marine (Hon. P. Fraser), and himself. They had been Continued in the afternoon , between- Mr. Rudder and Mr. Nash... “I hope to be able to make an announcement shortly regarding- the establishment of an air service-Across the Tasman, ’’.said Mr. Savage.' ' " Mr. Rudder returned to • Sydney by the Awatea, .which sailed ’from Wellington to-night; .y -