AUSTRALIAN AIR POLICY

Northern Advocate, 5 February 1936, Page 8

AUSTRALIAN AIR POLICY

81-WEEKLY SERVICE TO N.Z.

(Received 10 a.m.) SYDNEY, This Day,

Mr R. A. Parkhill, Federal Defence Minister, addressing his constituents at Mosman, gave a full review of the Commonwealth air policy and some reasons why the Commonwealth had rejected the British Government’s air mail scheme.

He said that Australia wants to play her full part in the Empire air schemes, but considers that internal development must come first. Two points he mentioned against the British scheme were that control of the Darwin to Singapore route was commercially and strategically vital to Australia, qnd that the inland route to Darwin was of greater strategic importance than the coastal route suggested by Britain. Plans For Development. He announced the following plans for immediate development:— i Reduction in the surcharge on overseas letters from 1/6 to 6d. Reduction in transit time between Singapore and Brisbane from four to three days.

The affording of the fullest possible encouragement to civil aviation “because of the important part it must play in defence.”

Improving speed, frequency and carrying capacity both of internal and overseas services.

Other proposals for the future development of civil aviation in Aus tralia included:—

The provision of high-speed night flying services between the capital cities.

A bi-weekly air mail service to New Zealand.

A weekly service between Australia and New Guinea. The manufacture of aircraft in Australia.