CIVIL AVIATION

Grey River Argus, 21 March 1945, Page 6

CIVIL AVIATION

NEW BRITISH POLICY LONDON, March 19. The most controversial point in the White Paper on civil aviation was the extent of the part the British Overseas Airwavs Corporation would play ii?the scheme, said Lord Rothermore, opening a debate on it in the House of Lords. The 8.0.A.C. was not only the finest, but at present the only organisation capable of running an overseas service. He said the three chosen instruments proposed in the White Paper were better than one, but it was difficult to see where one started and the other ended. Though he would like to see competition develop between two separate organisations, he could not see how it could develop in three organisations which were so mixed up. Why should the 8.0.A.C. have its linger m the pie. of other instruments, instead of it being allowed to remain on its own, so that it could be judged according to its merits. He criticised the proposed amalgamation of European and internal airways in one corporation. Overseas airlihes were going to have the strongest competition imaginable from foreign airlines, but services in Britain were apparently going to be a monopoly. He thought there should be on the main internal routes tn Britain at least two services. Lord Knollys, chairman of the 8.0.A.C., said the White Paper gave a reasonable workable plan, which would enable the organisations concerned to plan to operate with some promise oi stability. He said: “Now, at last, we can really get down 1o the job, free from the changes and disturbances which made the task of those connected with British air transport so difficult for many years.” 8.0.A.C. had, for many years, wanted and advocated ‘ co-fope?ation with other forms of transportation. He assured the house that, in the present plan, they were very willing partners, in the end, the British aircraft industry was going to produce the finest aircraft in the world for our purposes. Meantime, they were going to do their best to make use of interim types, which would be better than most people thought. Lord Swinton (Minister of Civil Aviation) said the broad lines of the plan were right. Civil aviation should not fall into parly politics. We had given our all, in this war, including practically the whole of civil aviation. vVe could not afford io wait while others went forward. There was going to be plenty of competition abroad. He knew of nobody who would take any part in the scheme who did not realise to the full that competition must be met in the air. The Government would not take into partnership any partner they were not satisfied was going to be wholeheartedly in favour of development in 'the air. The railways would not have a majority either in the shareholders or on the boards. Loyd Swinton said the pre-war operators were offered an opportunity oi coming in either in the main corporation, or a subsidiary company could be formed in partnership with the main corporation and the pre-war operators.