RELAXING OF DUTIES

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 18991, 16 April 1936, Page 5

RELAXING OF DUTIES

PLANES FOR AUSTRALIA FOREIGN INFLUX POSSIBLE LONDON, April 5. The possibility of au influx of American and German aeroplanes to Australia after import duties are relaxed is discussed by the British aviation journal Flight in its latest issue. The paper appeals to British manufacturers to consider the Australian market and points out that America's internal demands have resulted in mass production of fast passenger machines which can be sold .cheaply in the British Dominions. Australia must consider whether the Americans are wise in concentrating on speed. Australia's best policy is to aim at the most economic speed, not the fastest.

Profits must bo precarious where the population is small, and speed is always the most expensive commodity. If Australia insists on speed, Britain .must produce special new designs, for which there is now no home demand. Even if British firms are compelled to design and sell unprofitably, they might eventually be rewarded, as'the Australian demand is steadily expanding. Referring to the delay in delivering Australia's orders for fighting aeroplanes, Flight says the situation would be worse in a time of war. The only solution appears to be to found a local industry, which would impose a heavy burden on the Australian taxpayer. -Safety, however, is the prime consideration and would be cheaper than invasion. The building of engines would offer the greatest difficulty. Multiplicity of design which is desirable in Britain is not required in Australia, where the main problem would be to drive off the overseas invader. Australia, therefore, might decide to manufacture one type of engine, says the journal.