LONDON-N.Z. AIR SERVICE

Northern Advocate, 8 February 1936, Page 7

LONDON-N.Z. AIR SERVICE

I IMPERIAL AIRWAYS SCHEME I OUTLINED

(Received 2 p.m.) LONDON, February 6,

In the House of Commons, the Under-Secretary for Air, Sir Philip Sassoon, informed Mr O. E. Simmonds (Con., Birmingham) that he was at present considering Australia’s air mali counter proposals. Mr Simmonds: “Is there still hope that Australia will come into the scheme outlined?”

/ Sir Philip: “We always hoped so.’

Sir James Parr called on Lord Swinton, Air Minister, with the object, the Australian Associated Press understands, of discovering the effects of Australia’s rejection on the through service from London to New Zealand.

The “Sun-Herald” News Service sought an authoritative analysis of the Imperial Airways scheme and an authoritative elucidation of the policy behind the scheme, and the following explanation was supplied: The scheme is less concerned with control than with unity of operation. It is desired, for economy, to use the same kind of flying boats over the whole route from England to Australia and New Zealand. For example, it is intended that flying boats, normally on Australian work should be registered in Australia and flown by Australian pilots. A big seaplane depot would be established in Australia, probably at Sydney, and the Commonwealth Government would thus control flying boats for purposes of airworthiness, and also control the pilots. The primary reasons for desiring the use of a seaplane route are operational, uniformity, economy of longrange work and convenience in extending the service to New Zealand and later across the Pacific. I