BIG AIR SCHEME.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLVII, Issue 123, 22 April 1927, Page 10

BIG AIR SCHEME.

TO GO ROUND AUSTRALIA IMPORTANT PLANS.

SYDNEY, April 14. If proposals to be submitted to the F’ederal Cabinet in the near future come to anything, there will be established an aerial chain right round Australia, an aerial link with Tasmania, and, through private enterprise, with Papua and the mandated territories.

The important plans mark a great extension of the civil aviation programme. So far, in Australia, subsidised services cover 3292 miles, and It is proponed to increase the total of these routes to a figure in the region of 10,000 miles. Provided Cabinet approves of the plans, a tremendouse impetus will be given to the manufacture of aircraft in Australia.

Nowadays Commonwealth subsidies to existing services absorb £70,000 annually, L and if the extension of the services as proposed gets the sanction of the Federal authorities, this figure may increase, at first; to £250,000 a year, covering the old and new services.

With these services a complete link will go right round Australia’s coastline.

Already a route from Cloncurry to Normanton —200 miles —has been approved, and tenders are to close this month for the east-west services between Adelaide (South Australia) and Perth (West Australia). This is a service covering 1550 miles. ■ 111 addition there is the proposal to link Melbourne with Hobart, via Launceston, and for that trip amphibian planes after the style of Commander Waekett’s. “Widgeon” would be the type most suitable. , With all those services in operation Australia would be well provided with aerial transport, and it is practically assured that the Federal authorities will approve, more especially in view of the fact that the. Prime Minister has stated on numerous occasions recently- that he was prepared to encourage aviation to the fullest extent of the Commonwealth’s resources.

It is possible that the GovernorGeneral will use an official plane as a regular means of • communication between Melbourne and Canberra.

Services proposed will be : — Miles Between .Melbourne and Sydney, 600 Between SS’dney and Brisbane 550 Between Comooweal and Darwin 800 Between Wyndliam and Darwin Between Derby and Wyndliam 320 (W.A.) 650