BRIGHT FUTURE

New Zealand Herald, Volume 82, Issue 25216, 31 May 1945, Page 3

BRIGHT FUTURE

empire in air age VISCOUNT NUFFIELD'S VIEWS . "REVISE OUR ATLASES" From the news I have heard expressed in Australia by prominent politicians and industrialists, and from what 1 have seen for my,self in Australia. South Africa and New Zealand, 1 am convinced that we shall enjoy in the years of peace to come a great expansion of inter-Dominion trade, writes Viscount Nuffield in the Sunday Times of London. We cannot yet discern in all its detail the true picture of the Empire and the world as we shall see it when global air transport ensures that no country is more than two days' journey from another—even though they may be on opposite sides of the earth.

J'lie ctlects of full unhampered air travel —as wo have never before known it on Britain's political, social and industrial relations with the Empire countries and with every other land on earth, are to us as yet incalculable. In another five or ten years we shall see the new picture in all its glorv. We shall revise our atlases. We shall study instead the new air maps of the world. We shall blaze new sky trails over the polar ice and across the oceans. "One Great Family" Then for the first time we in Britain and our sons and daughters in the Dominions and colonies will be able to get to know each other as one great family of united peoples. No longer shall we be separated bv a journey of many weeks. We shall have breakfast In Blackpool and bo in Australia by tomorrow night. We shall have fresh peaches and cream for a sunny picnic tea at Capetown and lunch next day in Piccadilly. For business men and statesmen, to whom speed of travel is so essential, this new world living will be an inestimable boon. As a means of building up good relations and fast friendships between the peoples of the earth we have, so far, no true conception of its power. Education is another field where there are tremendous potentialities. If it can be subsidised, 1 see great possibilities in the interchange of school children, apprentices awl young technicians between the countries of the Empire. And just as our students may he exchanged so should we have free exchange of ideas on all matters of politics and trade. Lesson of the War We must give the closestthought to the development of new tariff agreements so that there shall be the most advantageous exchange of goods and services, of men and money, between those who are members of the great British Commonwealth.

We at home must not underestimate our standing in the eyes of the Empire and the world at large. Wherever I have journeyed on my recent tour f have found only the highest admiration for .Britain's courage and determination to win through against such heavy odds. British prestige in the Dominions has never been higher. There is unbounded confidence in Mr Churchill.

The peril and adversity of war have joined the countries of the Empire and the free peonies of the earth in common cause and fellowship. In our strength we have become united, in our unity we have become strong. There should be our lesson.

BRITISH ELECTION

MILLION SERVICE VOTES AIR MAIL TO BE USED LONDON, May 28 In the coming general election, for the first time in British Parliamentary history, voting by air mail will be an accepted electoral feature. Probably over 1,000.000 servicemen abroad will vote in this way. It wili be a gigantic task collecting the service votes abroad. Ballot papers will be flown to nil military bases abroad by the Air Transport Command and returned the same way to England for counting. "Ballot planes" will fly to the Mediterranean, Africa, Persia, Burma, Canada, the United States, and to islands like Malta, Iceland and the Azores. But they will not go to Australia or the Pacific.

To ensure that these air-mail votes will return to England in time, the returning officers win not begin the official count until 19 days after polling day,

j and the result will be delayed another t two days, 21 days being necessary, in ! the opinion of service chiefs, for all voting papers to be returned from outr : lying eorhers of the globe.

Because many relatives in Britain hold proxies for soldiers serving abroad, a foolproof check system has been devised to ensure that no soldier votes twice—by air mail and by proxy. Candidates will reach their service constituents by Army post Election pamphlets addressed to servicemen abroad will be given travel priority, provided they are printed on a piece of paper not larger than 10in by 7Jin and weighing not more than a quarter of an ounce. This will give each candidate about 2000 word's. By air, they will reach Burma in five days and Italy in three days. If requested, returning officers will post election addresses in the same envelopes as the voting papers. A limited amount of party propaganda will also reach the men through 8.8.C. broadcasts and Army newspapers.

GERMAN EMBASSY

NEW YORK MANSION

SECRETS NOW REVEALED For four years a huge brick house, with 103 rooms, in Massachusetts Avenue, Washington, D.C., has beer; empty. Its only visitors were representatives of the Swiss Government. But the German Embassy has now been taken over by the United States Government and reporters have been permitted to trudge through the empty rooms amid dust which the Swiss fought against unsuccessfully. An awful oil-painting is in the main dining room. This shows a homely gentleman with a postage-stamp moustache, a sky-blue uniform, and a leer on his face. The name is "A. Hitler."

The Embassy is a shambles of broken furniture, old carpets, and boxes of tinned foods which the Nazis tried vainly to ship to Germany, plus assorted portraits of assistant fuehrers, who do not look much better than "Adolf." The Inst German Ambassador had a secret cabinet in the office wall, covered smoothly with wallpaper and worked by a push-button. The Ambassador's desk had another secret button, which, when pushed, started machinery whirring, revealing a dozen secret drawers.

On (hp top floor was the radio room, where the Nazis kept in touch with Germany. The equipment was highclass. A complicated pile of ticker tape indicated there had been two-way conversations between Washington and Berlin. The code room next door was bare, except for a dozen smashed chairs.

PETROL JUTIONS UP CANADA AND U.S.A. NEW YORK, May 24 Both America and Canada have made their petrol rations more liberal. In Washington, the Petroleum Administrator, Mr Harold Ickes, announced that the , new petrol "A" coupons will be increased from four to six gallons as from .Tune 22 (Six coupons are allowed every three months). "B" cars will be raised to 65 miles a month from June 11. The Canadian Oil Controller announced that all Canadian petrol ration coupons will be increased from three to four gallons as from today.