POLITICAL CONTROL

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 21606, 8 January 1945, Page 2

POLITICAL CONTROL

AUSTRALIA’S AIRLINES FORMER DIRECTOR’S VIEW ißy Telegraph—Press Assn. —Copyright.) (9 a.m.) BRISBANE, Jan. 6. Political control of Australia's airlines would be disastrous, declared the former Director of Civil Aviation. Mr. A. B. Corbett. Mr. Corbett said he spoke from 44 years' experience as a civil servant. Before taking over his civil aviation post, he was Queensland’s dcputy-Director of Post and Telegraph. Political control would cause delay in decisions and a shortage of pounds at the right time, and lack of expert knowledge, he said, and political expediency would certainly, over-ride efficient management. Nothing could prevent political interference and disorganisation in any. Governmentowned air industry in which untrained and inexperienced ministers assumed the vole of managing-direc-tors and disregarded the advice of trained executives.. Mr. Corbett said the Federal Government already controlled the air routes and stopping places, fares and freights, timetables, the rates paid for mails, and the safety of aircraft. On the other haqd .the companies provided all the capital and carried all the risk of losses and paid about £2,000.000 a year in taxation. Mr. Corbett estimated the cost to the taxpayer of the proposed nationalisation of. airways at - £10,000,000. •