SCHEME OUTLINED

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18586, 21 December 1934, Page 6

SCHEME OUTLINED

EMPIRE AIR SERVICES

NOTABLE ADVANCES

NEED FOR CO-OPERATION

(British Official Wireless.) Rec. 2 p.m. RUGBY, Dec. 20. Far-reaching developments in Empire air communications are proposed in a scheme outlined in the House of Commons to-day by Sir Philip Sassoon, who said that, these proposals, which were the results of many months of work by the .Air Ministry 'and Post Office, in consultation with Imperial Airways, were approved by the British Government late in the summer and subsequently ‘communicated to the . other Empire Governments concerned.

Until the views from all these Governments had been received, the scheme must he ‘regarded as a basis for discussion only, since its realisation depends upon their willing co-operation and support. Sir Philip Sassoon empha sised that his statement must, therefore, not he taken as prejudicing tho issue.

The scheme contained three main features, firstly, a very material improvement on the present time schedules between the several parts of the Empire concerned; secondly, a substantial increase in the. frequency of the services; and, thirdly, all first-class mail to Empire countries covered by the projected services in future to he carried by air.

A schedule was envisaged of just, over two days to India, 2J,- to East, Africa, four to Singapore, and seven to Australia. Provision was made for lliree, or possibly five, services a week to India, three services a week to Singapore and Blast. Africa, and two to South Africa and Australia.

lie could as yet say nothing definite about the letter rate proposed, hut they hoped that so far as concerned United Kingdom . letters for Empire destinations, subject to a successful outcome of the negotiations with tho Governments concerned, il might bo in the region of the present Empire rate of 1 jd. hut this would apply per half-ounce, instead of to the. first ounce as at present. He mentioned that correspondence covering at least eight sides of special light paper could be sent within the half-ounce limit. It would, of course, bo for the other participants lo fix their own postal charges. An integral feature of tho scheme was the comprehensive programme for the development of the ground organise* tion of Empire air routes on a basis which would enable the services, which would cater for passenger as well ns mail traffic, to operate by night as freely as by day. Sir Philip Sassoon added that it would not be ‘practicable to give further details as regards finance, types of aircraft, etc., until tho negotiations with the other Governments concerned were completed, and lie could as yet give no date for the inauguration of tho scheme. The provision of the necessary fleet, ground organisation, etc., would require a period of something like two years before a project of this magnitude,' constituting an it does the largest step forward which has yet been taken in the development of Empire air communications, could bo brought into full operation. Further, the PostmasterGeneral desired to make it clear that there was little possibility of ihtroducing l|d postal rate for Imperial firstclass correspondence carried bv air before 1937.

From December 30, the England to South Africa air mail will operate twice a week instead of once. The Wednesday service will operate to Capetown, but the Sunday servico only to Johannesburg. From January l the air mail service to India will also operate twice a week. The Saturday service will operate right through to Australia, but the Thursday service only to Calcutta.