TO LONDON BY AIR.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume L, Issue 16619, 24 December 1924, Page 3

TO LONDON BY AIR.

COMM AN DEB BURNEYS SOU EM E. READY IN TWO YEARS. LONDON, Nov. 18. —“Unless the Empire is given uommiMiieo.tmiks making it an 'economic and political entity, I doulbt whother dt will hold together,'’ said Lieutenant-Commander Burney, the author of the .scheme for an Empire airship service, .stressing the importance of airships in the future defence and de vclopmonl, of Australia. “Instead, of Britain lining the uoi'ld’:. workshop .is formerly.’’ he raid, “presently .she will 'be competing uitb

.Europe and Asia, as weil as America

Britishers do not realise that threequarters of the population of the world is colored, and until support, is given te> her, Australia, will continue to be a bail, for Asiatic races.

“Wo have already suilnnitfcd an air ship scheme to Mr Bruce and the State. Prom ton-. We hope that Australia, will decide to 'build air station;-, t.o enaihle voya-gKi from, England to India i,> be extruded I" Australia. Vickers would complete the necessary airships in lan, years, ami also might the prepared In run the ships on an, agreed basis for lilie division of profits. “I am interested in the political more •Ulan in the commercial aspect. Once

Australasia, is more closely eoiniiMilcd 'ivilh England and Canada, the resulting interchange of ideas 'by leading statesmen will enable public opinion all over The Empire to realise Australia’s jeopardy.

“Wei have find an. uphill fight in Britain, but now we are established. If public'opinion in Australia will realise that Vickers are attempting to put Imperial communications on a, sound footing, it, would result is the greatest advance in three rears'..

“The question of closer communication is hound up with, the problems of Imperial preference, emigration and Eastern defences, of which, Singapore is the key «s well as the, geographical centre of the Empire. “■Britishers complain Thai Australia is most ready to allow England to finance air schemes, whereas they want Australians to help themselves in a practical way. f.|, is obvious that- ovean reconnissancc can be carried out more speedily and more effectively by air. “The Washington Conference decision means that, Australia, cannot, possess capita,l .ships a,nd is limited, In, cruisers, despite the Pacific’s vast open spaces. Therefore, Australia’s forces in wartime must con centra to in order to .strike effectively, and consequently if would he impossible for floating forces to carry out reconnaissances and they must rely on. Aviation, If the new applications ol science were utilised, Australia's geo graphical difficulties and dangers -would disappear.”

Vickers’ Anglo-Indian airships will carry 130 passengers, of whom '6O will ocoqpy cabin berths, and the remainder will sleep on couches in the lounge, and saloon. Tt is, hoped to underent the steamship fares ibv 810.