AERIAL SERVICE.

Northern Advocate, 27 January 1922, Page 5

AERIAL SERVICE.

BASED IMPERIALLY.

NEW ZEALAND DIFFIDENT.

LONDON, Jan. 25.

The fate of the Imperial airship service is in the balance. The decision of India is eagerly -awaited and her decision will decide the issue. The office of the Air Minister* states that it has not yet been advised as to what India's decision will be. So far as is known no decision has yet been arrived at. Cables are believed to have passed between Mr W. M. Hughes (the Australian Prime Minister) and India, and it is hoped that they will have good effect. The office of the Minister of War states that New Zealand and South Africa have refused to come into the scheme owing to the state of their finances. It was known that Mr Massey was not enthuiastic over the matter at the time of the Imperial Conference, but it was believed that he had been subsequently converted. Therefore New Zealand's decision not to join in is a great disappointment to local air circles. At the same time New Zealand's inclusion is not essential to the inauguration of the service, and South Africa is only a branch line. If India will join Australia, the service will Start.

Mr A'. BT. Ashbolt, Agent-General for Tasmania, speaking at the Lyceum Club on the subject of the proposed service, said that he had good reason to believe that if India would follow Australia's example in guaranteeing a contribution, the British Government would be prepared to start an experimental service forthwith—A. and N.Z.