POST RESIGNED

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 21924, 19 January 1946, Page 3

POST RESIGNED

BRITISH AIRWAYS DIRECTOR’S CRITICISM EXTRAVAGANCE ALLEGED (9 a.m.) LONDON, Jan. 18. The Director-General of the British Overseas Airways Corporation, General A. C. Critchley, has tendered his resignation, which the Minister of Civil Aviation, Lord Winster, has accepted. In a letter to Lord Winster, General Critchley said: "The Government announcement that we are no longer to have a national organisation for the development of civil aviation, but three or more State-owned independent undertakings, renders changes in the B. organisation imperative if it is to be run economically. “We now have a Minister, a wholetime chairman, and chief executive for a reduced task to be undertaken. I feel this is top-heavy and extravagant, especially at a time when we must show an example of economy in all ways to the 8.0.A.C. junior grades.” General Critchley recalled the 8.0.A.C. progress during his three years' association with it, and pointed out that the yearly mileage had increased from ‘13,000,000 to 30,000,000, and the yearly monetary deficit of £2,300,000 had changed to a surplus of £1,500,000. He added that the fact that there had been no fatal accident to passengers during the last 14 months proved that the quality of the personnel could not be bettered.

The board of 8.0.A.C. paid a tribute to General Critchley’s outstanding work carried out with dynamic energy and foresight. Lord Knoll.vs will continue as the full-time chairman. The position of director-general will be redundant.