EMPIRE AIR MAIL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 18018, 17 February 1922, Page 5

EMPIRE AIR MAIL.

AN ALTERNATIVE SCHEME.

MATERIALS FROM GERMANY.

LONDON, Feb. 8.

An alternative scheme for an Imperial air service, in the event of the breakdown of the present proposals through India's non-co-operation, was outlined by Mr. A. H. Ashbolt, Agent-General for Tasmania, at the Air .Conference. Mr. Ashbolt suggested that Germany should supply complete materials and "equipment, in reduction of the reparation due to Britain, following the American precedent. These should be delivered at requisite points throughout the Empire. The labour cost of erecting one shed and two mast-stations in Australia, from £150,000 to £175,000, would be borne by the Commonwealth. Germany would supply, in addition, three or four airships similar to those she is now building for America. Mr. Ashbolt said that he hoped that the alternative scheme would be unnecessary, but it would be better to use German material than to let the scheme collapse. He attacked the attitude of Mr. F. E. Guest, Secretary for Air, which, he said, "did not represent the spirit which had built up the nation and the Empire." He deprecated Mr. Guest's statement that it would be probably from eight to 10 years before cash would be available for the establishment of a commercial air service.

Mr. Ashbolt described as farcical the suggestion that Australia might be asked to link up by aeroplanes with Singapore, diverting her contribution of £250,000 for that purpose. Australia would not consider it for five minutes. "It is the considered opinion of experts," he said, "that an aeroplane service to Australia is not likely to be consummated under at least 12 to 15 years, and that considerable improvements in the present patterns are essential before that can be achieved."

On the second day of the Air Conference Major-General Sir Frederick Sykes, Controller-General of Civil Aviation, and Major-Gcneral Sir William Brancker, for merly Director of Air Organisation, condemned the granting of subsidies to the cross-channel air services as unjustified by national importance, and suggested the formation of a great national company, partially controlled by the Government, I for the purpose of developing important routes, like that from Delhi to London, or from Aden to Mombasa, for the carriage of mails.

I The conference adopted a resolution, pro- | posed by Sir William Brancker, calling on 1 the Government immediately to consider ! the foundation of an Imperial air mail. I The Times in a leading article welcomes I the institution of a Civil Aviation Board 1 of business men and technical experts as a sign of the proper recognition of the importance of civil aviation in the develop-1 ment of the Empire. The board, states the Times, will be most valuable in deciding between the conflicting views as to the value of airships, and instances Mr. Guest's speech reflecting his frank doubts as to their present practicability, contrasted with the views of Major G. H. "Scott, an acknowledged authority. Major Scott informed the Air Conference that airships wero now technically capable of employment for. commerce or defence, and were the most promising means of speeding up Imperial communications. The route to India, continues the Time's, could be opened with immediate success as soon as bases were established. The postponement of airship activity on the ground of economy would defeat its own object. The expenditure on resumption even two years ahead would be considerably more than was necessary to-day.