LINKING THE EMPIRE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19550, 1 February 1927, Page 12

LINKING THE EMPIRE.

BETTER COMMUNICATIONS. FUTURE OF THE AIRSHIP. SERVICES TO DOMINIONS. "There was unmistakable evidence among the people of Britain of a greater knowledge of the Empire and all it means than was the case when I was in England three years ago," said Mr. S. M. Bruce, Prime Minister of Australia, yesterday, uhen he arived by the Niagara from Vancouver, en route to Sydney. Mr. Bruce said there was every indication of a wider Empire sense among the people and a wider realisation of what the Empire meant. Mr. Bruce saw in this greater possibilities for the future in the direction of closer unity and co-operation between the peoples of the various parts of the Empire, and said the question of communications was one that had an important bearing on the problem. In the first place it was necessary to bring the outlying sections of the Empire closer together by cutting down the time taken in journeying over the longer sea routes. It was recognised at the Imperial Conference that it was necessary to shorten the time taken on these voyages, especially between Great Britain and Australia and New Zealand. Several schemes had been examined and the matter was now being further considered. Ths 'establishment of air routes to give rapid communication between these southern countries ; and England was another point touched on by Mr. Bruce. He was particularly interested in the proposal to inaugurate an airship service, and said that the building of two huge airships in England was the beginning of an, Empire service that had immentse possibilities. Ho expressed the. opinion that within the next ten years the lighter-than-air craft would be successfully operating over vast areas. He was, however, hopeful that the scheme would,be so developed that it "would ' be' possible Soon to make the journey by air from England to Australia in from 10 to 11 -dayii.Mr. JBruce mentioned that the Air Ministry was sending experts to Canada and South Afrioa to. investigate and re? port on the erection oi mooring masts for the Empire airships. Australia, while not andertaking to erect such a mast at an estimated cost of about £70,000, had agreed that these experts should also visit Australia to inspect the possible sites for an airship base and advise th» Commonwealth Government, Mr. Bruce said he found that Britain's position in regard to overseas trade was very much better. This was due mainly to a realisation on the part of those con* trolling industry that they really had to do something if England was going to maintain her position, There had formerly been a feeling that conditions would right themselves, but the fallacy of this. view had now been recognised, and. -with greater attention to the needs and problems of thi? wider markets there was every prosp sct of a brighter futuro for England's export trade.