STEADY PROGRESS

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18547, 6 November 1934, Page 8

STEADY PROGRESS

EMPIRE AIR SERVICES

POLICY OUTLINED

EFFICIENCY PARAMOUNT

(Klee. Tel. Copyright—United Press Assn.)

(Received November 6. 2 p.m v ) LONDON, Nov. 5

Sir Erie decides, speaking at- Imperial Airways’ general meeting, said that no commercial service, could base its jilans upon a racing event like the centenary air race.

Imperial Airways for many months had planned a 7j-day service along the route, and Imperial Airways was not going to be frightened off its policy ol steady and efficient -progress by any fine air race, however remarkable it might he. Sir Erie Geddes announced that the company was immediately inaugurating a bi-weekly service from London to Johannesburg, and considering a biweekly service to Singapore. The hoard, thus far, had been unable to find a way ol increasing speed without considerably increasing the cost, which the postal administrators hitherto had been unwilling to meet. The board considered it- most important to provide the highest standards of regularity and safety while keeping fares and mail rates as low as possible, hoping eventually to become independent of subsidies. “This is impossible,” ho said, “if others insist on a mad race of subsidised air travel. We are prepared, however, to operate any services our clients wish to pay for. The American Rost Office loses £4.500,000 annually on fast air mail services, despite the fact that fuel in America costs onc-thinl less than in the Empire.”