BY AIR

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LII, Issue 16200, 25 November 1926, Page 7

BY AIR

TO NEXT CONFERENCE? AIRSHIPS IMPRESS BRUCE LONDON, Nov. IS. The political correspondent of tho Sun understands that Mr. Bruce, after the Prime Ministers’ visit to Cardington airship base, expressed a most favorable opinion of the mooring mast, and gave an indication that his Government will erect a similar structure in Australia ns soon as the airship trials prove satisfactory. The mast, it is. expected, would cost £50.000. Air. Mackenzie King, who also was favorably impressed, suggested that: Canada would follow suit, while Mr. Coates, though also impressed, would not commit New Zealand to any definite expenditure. The committee concluded its report for presentation to to-morrow’s plenary session of the conference. At Cardington Messrs Bruce, Mackenzie King, and Coates inspected a huge piece of the framework of tho new ariship RlOl, which may represent the inception of a new epoch in Empire communication. OPTIMISM OVER RlOl.

They saw also (lie R 33 and its mooring mast, Air. Bruce hastening up the whole 180 steps, disdaining the lift. He examined every detail, including the marvellous contrivances transforming the summit into semblance of a battleship’s bridge. The new revolving top is smaller than the original one, and is the only part of the mooring mast that could not be produced in Australia

All the officials were very optimistic concerning the RlOl, confidently telling Mr. Bruce that he would not only fiv to the next Imperial Conference, but that ho would have probably 100 passengers accompanying him. There will be two and four-berth sleeping cabins, lounges, a smokoroom, a dining-room, hot baths and 6-course meals, and there might even he a newspaper published on hoard. The secrecy concerning many of her details is the sequel to Britain’s rapid advance in airship manufacture. When the RlOl takes the air numerous features will be exclusively Britain ’s.

When interviewed, Air. Bruce said he was sure that the tests had been wonderfully successful, and it remained to be seen whether the airship, when assembled, would equal these trials.