Disappointed That Air Plan Mot Supported

Northern Advocate, 30 September 1944, Page 4

Disappointed That Air Plan Mot Supported

CANBERRA, This Day

Australia was deeply disappointed that the Australian-New Zealand proposal for international control of airroutes had not received the support anticipated, declared the Commonwealth’s Minister for Air (Mr. Drakeford) in the House of Representatives yesterday. Because of the lack of support for this broad scheme, consideration was now being given to other proposals in a belief that it would be possible at least to secure agreement between the countries of the British Empire. Mr. Drakeford announced that the Australian Government had a fourpoint plan for external air services as follows: (1) The re-establishment on an expanded scale of passenger, mail and freight services/between Britain and Australia via the Mediterranean and India or Ceylon. (2) The establishment of a military air transport service across the Pacific as a forerunner of commercial air services to link up with Canadian internal services and transatlantic air services operating between Canada and Britain. (3) Formulation of definite plans for inter-Commonwealth services during the forthcoming Empire talks. (4) The Australian Government will endeavour to assist in reaching understanding among the great nations so that if, as seems likely. International ownership and operation is impracticable, there would at least be a basis of co-operation in respect of international air transport services.

Transpacific Service Elaborating the main points of the Australian plan, Mr. Drakeford said that the military transpacific air service now to be established, would pave the way at an appropriate time for a commercial service linking Australia, New Zealand, the United States and Canada. For more than a year Qantas Airways had operated a restricted service across the Indian Ocean to Ceylon, and Karachi linking up with the service from England. It was planned to expand this service as soon as practicable.

In place of the international air agreement first proposed by Australia and New Zealand, plans were now being made for inter-British Commonservices. The objective was to provide an Empire air transport service operated by Britain, the Dominions and India in collaboration.