The Grey River Argus FRIDAY, March 11, 1938. ENGLAND’S AIR MUDDLE.

Grey River Argus, 11 March 1938, Page 8

The Grey River Argus FRIDAY, March 11, 1938. ENGLAND’S AIR MUDDLE.

Civil and military aviation is so inextricably bound up, that the revelations of the Cadman Committee which has presented a report to the British Government, must come as a severe shock to many who regarded Britain as having an almost super-air force. The people of the Empire hake been led to believe that Britain’s

air defence preparations had reached the stage where she would be able to fully defend her., self in case of air attacks. The Air Minister (Viscount Swinton) better remembered as Sir Philip Cunliffe-Lister, has been subjected to severe criticism in England,

and for many months there has been a constant press demand for his removal from office. lie has come to be regarded as “superior” to Parliament, and he has been referred to frequently as the “red tape minister.” Reasons for his unpopularity are not hard to find. He is immensely wealthy, and has been attacked by large combines who have failed to secure what they considered was their share of Royal Air Force orders. As long ago as May 1936, Lord Nuffield withdrew from the “shadow-scheme” incorporating leaders of British industry, remarking to the Air Minister at the time: “Well, God help you in case of war!” Nuffield’s remark just about expresses the average English view of the Air Minister’s work, and the demand for Viscount Swinton’s resignation has become more insistent as time marched on. All the time foreign powers have been bringing their air units to the peak of perfection, whilst the British Air Ministry’s orders have been slipping further back, and the expected progress in air evolution, both military and civil, has resulted in nothing more or less than a state of stagnation being achieved. Relatively greater progress in air force expansion and commercial aviation has been made in each of the Dominions, and in none more so than in New Zealand, where the Government is fully conscious of its obliga lions to the people in the provision of an efficient air arm. T-he most important phase of the Cadman Report, which deals with civil aviation, is _the reference to the combine which has gained control of the major Empire air routes. Heavily subsidised by the British Government. Imperial Airways, instead of expanding its service as had been expected, has been gradually withdrawing from foreign services, and is obviously intent on remaining entirely an Empire, service. The

company has not kept pace with

foreign construction of medium sized air liners, its foreign yearly

mileage has shown a continua drop, and above all, British airmen have found that the rates oi pay leave many causes for discontent. These latter causes of discontent, the British Government proposes to remove, mainly by doubling the company’s subsidy of £1,500,000 annually, whilst the Ministry has also decided that the company should stick to Em* pire routes, leaving British Airways to look after foreign routes. Perhaps this may be the means of improving the Empire serIvices, by their early extension to colonies far removed from Lon don. Perhaps also, it may assist Australia and New Zealand in that Imperial Airways will not demand the very large subsidy which has been asked for the extension of the Tasman Sea ser-

vice. " The increased subsidy also calls for a very considerable reduction on the air mail charges which have for long prevented the Dominions from making full use of the fast transport of mails afforded by air services. Aviation research, and experiments have been badly neglected in England, and the Americans are today leading the world in this direction. It is now proposed to have a speeding up in England, and provided that Viscount Swinton’s red tape measures are not too restrictive in their nature there seems every possibility that, great progress can be achieved. The meagre nature of the changes proposed, however, is hardly likely to outweigh t the demands for a change in the Air Ministry’s control, and Viscount Swinton still has to face a barrage of criticism for the neglectful administration of the past five years, New Zealand will be particular-

ly interested in coming British moves, for although far removed from the Empire capital, this country must of necessity closely watch the progress being made in aviation, so that the benefits of new discoveries will not be lost to us. We have developed excellent commercial services within the Dominion, and at. the present time are intent on having an up-to-date air force that will be a credit to anv British Dominion.