IMPERIAL AIRWAYS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19903, 24 September 1926, Page 9

IMPERIAL AIRWAYS

THE EMPIRE SERVICES. TO INDIA AND EGYPT. CRITICISM OF COMPANY’S AFFAIRS. (Pres* Association—By Telegraph—Copyright.) LONDON, September 22. Sir Eric Geddes, at the annua] meeting of Imperial Airways (Ltd.), announced that the company’s services to Egypt ana India would commence in January,# the machines being similar to those used in the European services. Sir Samuel Hoare (War Minister), his wife, and staff would make the first flight from London to Karachi, thus emphasising the growth of the public feeling of safety in flying. Sir Eric Geddes said that the company, in the first five months of the current financial year, carried more passengers than during the whole of the previous year. The development of Imperial air routes ought, not to be stunted by parsimonious Government assistance. France gave civil aviation subsidies totalling £4OO,OCX) and Germany £500,000, compared with Britain’s £137.000. Mr Lasy, a shareholder, in objecting to the calling up of all the authorised capital, moved that the company be wound up. The motion was declared out of order. The directors undertook to try to delay the call. Only after Sir Eric Geddes had promised to consider the postponement of a further call on the capital did the critical shareholders adopt the report. Many, owing to the company’s loss of £20.000. demanded its winding up. Sir Eric Geddes explained that the less was partly due to the substitution of multi-eneined machines costing £63.000 for single-engined machines valued at £19,000, which were all scrapped owing to the greater public confidence in the former, though the delay in delivery enforced the refusal of consider able traffic The public demand for accommodation in the Imperial Company’s machines was a sufficient demonstration of confidence in the fleet’s efficiency, which was now recognised as being of the highest standard in the world. Further capital, necessitating a call of 10s per share, was required solelv for the development of Empire air routes. Sir Herbert Hambling. one of the governmental directors, strongly supported Sir Eric Geddes.—A. and N.Z. Gable.