AIR MAILS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22114, 18 November 1933, Page 2

AIR MAILS

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE DEPUTATION HIGHER SPEED REQUIRED. (From Ocb Own Correspondent.) LONDON, October 5. The case for faster and cheaper air mail services was well argued by the spokesman of a deputation representing the London Chamber of Commerce which interviewed the Air Minister, Lord Londonderry, last week. For years past many experts have pleaded for the acceleration of mail services, if necessary by the separation of mail and passenger traffic; this most recent argument has raised the subject afresh. Sir Geoffrey Clarke, speaking on behalf of the deputation, pointed out that the present cruising speed on the India mail route was about 100 miles an hour, but that modern requirements for mail services demanded much higher speeds. He stated that the chamber urged the ultimate adoption of a 24 hours schedule for air mail routes —flying by_ night as well as by day—and ..the adoption of aircraft and the establishment of ground organisation enabling mails to travel at least 2500 miles in every 24 hours. Repeating figures cited at a similar meeting in 1931 by Sir Robert M'Lean, chairman of Vickers (Aviation), Ltd., he submitted that by this means Calcutta could be reached in 3i days from London, and Sydney and Wellington in 7J and 8J days respectively. Finally, Sir Godfrey Clarke pointed to the immense annual profit made by the Post Office—about £10,000,000 in the last financial year—and urged that the Post Office could easily afford to pay a sufficient subsidy to an air service to enable it to pay its way. He asked for a flat rate for all Empire air mails, to displace the present irritating system of varying rates according to destination, and pointed out that in the past the Post Office had always employed the fastest available services for the carriage of mails. As means to the desired end the chamber suggested a full inquiry in the light of present knowledge by an impartial tribunal, which would study such subjects as the fees to be charged, subsidies, and the extension of air services. MAIL PLANES. That British aircraft constructors are fully qualified to produce really fast mail planes is proved by the performance of several civilian craft that have emerged recently from British factories. For example, in the Boulton-Paul P. 64 mail carrier, this country possesses a craft_ in which long range, high economical cruising speed,’ and ample safety margin are combined in a way not surpassed by the best comparable craft built elsewhere. Its maximum attainable level speed, on the power of two Bristol “Pegasus” motors, is 197 miles an hour, and normal cruising speed about 175 m.p.h., with a load of a thousand pounds of mail, a crew of two or three men, and fuel sufficient for nonstop journeys of 1250 miles in still air. And several craft due to take the air within the next few months will attain cruising speeds of 145 miles an hour and upwards on relatively moderate expenditure of power. With the impetus of a real high-speed policy for air mails there would be many more.