CIVIL AVIATION

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25174, 15 March 1943, Page 4

CIVIL AVIATION

PROVISION FOR THE FUTURE GUARDING BRITISH INTERESTS (N.Z.P.A. Special Correspondent) LONDON, Mar. 12. “This question is dynamite,’’ declared the Air Minister, Sir Archibald Sinclair, in the House of Commons before making his announcement on civil aviation, which Lord Cranborne jointly announced in the House of Lords. The Government’s statement will do much to allay the feelings of uneasiness that Britain might be left far behind America after the war. The High Commissioner for New Zealand, Mr W. J. Jordan, attended the preliminary discussions when the dominions were consulted. He is keeping the New Zealand Government informed. The debate in the House of Commons reflected the somewhat confused discussion regarding the subject. Some speakers advocated a separate Ministry for civil aviation with the hope that it< would be kept separate .’rom snipping and railway influences. Others stated that the shipping companies were already a worldwide organisation, which would be useful. Others criticised the British Overseas Airways Corporation and advocated private enterprise, as in America. Lord Rothermere, in the House of Lords, declared that the first task was to try to work out a service in the British Empire. “We should be extremely generous to the dominions in this matter,” he said. “There ara in the R.A.F. magnificent Australian, New Zealand, and Canadian pilots. They have a right to a proper share in post-war Empire aviation.” Tne air correspondent of the Daily Mail expresses the opinion that the British Government’s plans are designed to keep British civil flying well abreast of future developments in aviation. The last word in airliners at present is the Douglas (D.C.), seating 21 passengers, capable of 2000 miles in one hop at 190 to 220 m.p.h., and climbing to 21,900 feet. It is now possible to build the British version of this type before the end of the war for Continental and some Empire routes, though not for the Atlantic. Air freighters for service from Britain to Australia and New Zealand might take the form of the Mars flying boat, which can, accommodate 150 people. Much will depend on future international agreements about flyine rights over foreign countries and other political factors which are as yet undecided.